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Mental Health First Aid
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is the support provided to a person who may be experiencing a decline in their mental well-being or a mental health crisis.

While we often know a lot about physical illness, there tends to be less knowledge about mental health or substance use problems. This lack of understanding leads to fear and negative attitudes towards individuals living with these problems. It prevents people from seeking help for themselves and from providing appropriate support to people around them.

Learn what you can do to help, register now for our next virtual offering on August 24, 2022.
Contractor Health & Safety Management
NEW instructor-led course!

The Contractor Health and Safety Management (CHSM) course is intended to increase the occupational health and safety of all people involved in managing or performing contracted work, including municipal employees, contracting employers, sub-contractors, and prime contractors at a work site. The course will touch on responsibilities and aspects of hiring/using other work site parties, such as volunteers, service providers and temporary agencies.

Register now for our first offering, July 27, 2022.
2021 Legislation Change Overview
NEW no-cost eLearning course!

Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety legislation and Workers’ Compensation law changes came into effect on December 1, of 2021.

This overview course highlights the changes in the Act, Code and Regulations and provides managers and supervisors with information that will help determine if changes need to be made to their health and safety and other municipal programs.

The course is self paced and should take approximately 45 minutes to complete.
Workplace Accommodations Webinar, Presented by The Conference Board of Canada
Workplace accommodation has changed significantly over the past two years. The pandemic, and shifting work environments, have created new challenges and broadened conversations around the importance of flexibility and inclusion in the workplace. During this webinar, Reed Group’s Nadine Morganelli (Accommodation and Ergonomic Consultant) and Mike Brown (Account Executive and Consultant) will provide insight into today’s key topic - workplace accommodation.

Date: Tuesday, July 19, 2022, at 12:00 pm MT / 2:00 pm ET
Join us as we discuss:
  • Accommodation types
  • Best practices
  • Duty to accommodate legislation
  • Employer and employee responsibilities
  • The future of accommodation
The session will include two case studies that illustrate different accommodation requests and how to handle them to ensure the best employee and employer outcomes. Gain insight into recent developments through an in-depth discussion and Q&A period at the end of the session.

Hosted by The Conference Board of Canada’s Erin Mills, this session will provide human resource and diversity and inclusion professionals, employers, and people managers, core principles and practical takeaways on workplace accommodation.

Should you have any questions regarding this webinar, or require accommodations, please reach out to ahmed@conferenceboard.ca.
New OHS Injury Reduction Resources
Something as simple as an extension cord can cause serious injuries due to tripping. Incidents like this are preventable when employers conduct regular hazard assessments and maintain good housekeeping, like keeping areas clear.

Supporting First Responder Mental Health in Rural Alberta
FREE PTSI training for Alberta rural first responders is available now. Delivered virtually, content covers prevention, stigma, management and recovery from post-traumatic stress injury.
 
AMHSA is partnering with the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) and TELUS Health to provide rural and remote Alberta firefighters with evidence-based mental health content, training and resources focused on prevention and recovery from PTSI. This includes MHCC’s The Working Mind First Responder instructor-led virtual training program, Alberta-based support resources, post-course booster training, and self-management tools accessed through the Espri by TELUS Health mobile app.
 
The Rural First Responder Mental Health Program is being offered at no charge to 375 firefighters and leaders who work in fire stations registered in rural and remote municipalities across Alberta. Get more information and sign up at ruralfirstresponder.ca
New Videos
New videos are now available: Worker's Rights and Work Site Parties. For more, visit amhsa.net/resources/videos.
Member Meeting Minutes
AMHSA coordinates 3 groups that meet twice/year to network, share information, and discuss municipal news.

Minutes:

Upcoming meetings:
  • NASC/SASC Sept. 20, 2022
  • ACSC Nov. 29, 2022

For more details, contact us at safety@amhsa.net.
Alberta OHS eNews
OHS eNews for July is now available, and includes links to updated OHS Portal resources, incident reporting and investigation, emergency response planning, OHS guides for employers, supervisors, and workers, and a summary of serious work-related injuries and incidents reported to OHS.

Read the latest OHS news online or register for monthly OHS eNews from Alberta Labour & Immigration.
Ergonomics Webinars
Join AMHSA and EWI Works each month for no-cost webinars on ergonomics and preventing musculoskeletal injury.

Upcoming webinars:

Missed the live webinar?
WCB-Alberta Worksight
2022, Issue 5 of Worksight magazine is now available.

This edition includes information on COR rebates and the PIR program, OHS prevention initiative, updates to the myWCB employer app, enhancements to the claims management process, and updated Disability Management Self-Assessment checklist.

Read the latest WCB news on WCB's Website.
ITF Association
ITF published a June Update that covers the following topics: Government engagement, access to information, WCB board vacancy, lost time claim recording, WCB policy development/consultation, and WCB/OHS information sharing.

For current and past ITF newsletters, please visit our website.
Member Representation
AMHSA, through our participation on the Industry Task Force (ITF) Association Executive, sits as an Employer Representative on the WCB-Alberta Policy Consultation Advisory Group (PCAG).

Stakeholders are also invited to provide AMHSA with specific feedback so that we have a solid understanding of municipal stakeholder views.

  • Opioid Policy - Policy 04-06, Part II, Application 4. Consultation is open until September 26, 2022.
Audit News
Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) 2021 Refunds
In 2021, over 43% of Alberta's workforce was covered by an employer with a valid COR - that's 10,700 COR holders forecasted to receive Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) refunds from WCB-Alberta!

Total refunds for 2021 are projected to equal over $71 million returned to Alberta employers.

AMHSA is proud to be the municipal Certifying Partner for COR. Although AMHSA had the 8th largest total number of COR-holders, our employers earned the 5th highest PIR rebates, at over $4.25 million.

Congratulations to the employers, auditors, and employees involved in the COR program in Alberta!
COR Holders
Refunds by Year
Certifying Partners
Audit Registration
AMHSA is implementing a new audit registration process this year!

Starting July 1, 2022, auditors will complete a short form during their audit preparations, with details on audit type, auditor team, and planned start date. This form is to be submitted to audits@amhsa.net. If using the Excel Audit Tool, AMHSA's audit team will provide a download of the tool upon receipt.
Auditor Training
Health & Safety Management Systems
  • September 20-21, 2022 - live webinar
  • October 11-12, 2022 - live webinar

Health & Safety Auditing
  • September 27-28, 2022 (Sept. 29 optional) - live webinar
  • October 18-19, 2022 (Oct. 20 optional) - live webinar

Audit Refresher
  • September 14, 2022 - live webinar
  • October 4, 2022 - live webinar

Contact Carla@amhsa.net to register.
Upcoming Disability Management Training
In partnership with Pacific Coast University for Workplace Health Sciences, AMHSA is offering several learning events related to disability management and successful return to work. These learning events apply towards the Disability Management Practitioner certificate program offered by PCU.

The Chartered Professionals in Human Resources of Alberta (CPHR Alberta) have identified that these courses have been Pre-Approved for CPD Hours through CPHR Alberta.

Each course has been endorsed by the Canadian Society of Professionals in Disability Management (CSPDM) for continuing education credit (CEC) hours for the professional designations of Certified Disability Management Professional (CDMP) and Certified Return to Work Coordinator (CRTWC)

For more information or to register, contact Jessica (jessica@amhsa.net).
Mental Health Issues, Rehabilitation and Return to Work
A brief overview of mental health issues in the workplace is provided along with a more in-depth focus on stress and depression. Participants will explore symptoms, treatments and disability aspects of stress and depression and strategies for assisting individuals with stress- and depression-related illnesses to return to work. Disabilities that may have a mental health component and the biopsychosocial impact of disabilities will be considered.

Date: Sept. 15, 2022 (virtual)
Disability Management in Unionized Organizations
Various aspects of labour relations impact disability management, including the collective agreement and provincial labour relations act.

Memorandums of agreement and letters of intent used in establishing programs and joint committees will be examined. Dispute resolution in a union setting will be explored.

Date: Nov. 17, 2022 (virtual)
Discounted Continuing Education Courses from NAIT
AMHSA has partnered with NAIT to give you a discount on continuing education! Courses are available in-person and online to fit your schedule. Click to view brochure.

Pick your courses from NAIT’s Continuing Education page* and register by emailing CITTraining@nait.ca with your course selection(s) - be sure to mention your AMHSA membership to be eligible for discounts.

*Some restrictions apply, contact CITTtraining@nait.ca for details.
Upcoming Events
2022 Alberta Municipalities Convention & Trade Show
Save the date!
The Alberta Municipalities annual Convention and Trade Show will take place in Calgary at the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre, September 21-23, 2022.
For more information, visit abmunis.ca.
CPHR-Alberta Annual Conference
Over the past two years, we have had the opportunity to adapt and learn in new ways. Engage 22 will be one central event with two different yet, connected experiences. CPHR Alberta will host our first hybrid style annual conference bringing members together in-person and virtual. 

This year's focus will be on current challenges faced by HR professionals amidst the new normal. Your HR strategy plays a crucial role in keeping your employees informed, engaged and ready for the future of work. 

Join us on September 27th to connect with your peers and gain the knowledge, tools, and experience you need to boost your organization's effectiveness and bring more resilience & engagement to the workplace. For more information, visit Engage 2022.
2022 Water Week Conference & Trade Show
Join AWWOA as we return in-person for the 2022 Water Week Conference in Edmonton, November 7-9, 2022. Stay tuned for more information at awwoa.ca/events/water-week
Contact Us
safety@amhsa.net | www.amhsa.net | 1-800-267-9764