Changes to Alberta OH&S Code Effective July 1 09
June 18, 2009 by C. Chernichen · Comments Off
Significant changes have been made to the requirements of the Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Code and all of Alberta’s oil and gas industry members are expected to be in compliance by July 1, 2009. The changes affect:
- Hazard Assessments (more stringent requirements for involving affected workers in hazard assessments and ensuring contractor staff are aware of worksite hazards)
- Confined Spaces (new “restricted space” category introduced)
- Cranes, Hoists and Lifting Devices (new requirement for conducting load calculations for lifts exceeding 75 percent of a crane’s capacity)
- Fall Protection (changes to requirements for training, ladders, loads on vehicles and more)
- First Aid (changes in requirements for licensing ambulance services)
- Occupational Exposure Levels for Chemical Substances (revised levels for 150 substances)
- Working Alone (requirements for electronic communications and regular contact with individuals who work alone)
These sections and others have been affected by the April 27, 2009 revisions to the Code. Employers and operators are strongly advised to familiarize themselves with the changes. The OHS Code 2009 and Code Explanation Guide can be found on the Alberta OH&S website. For subscribers to the LibraSystem™, all relevant changes will be incorporated into appropriate Safe Work Practices and Regulatory Summaries in the June 30, 2009 update.