One of the major concerns we hear from smaller employers is that they do not have the resources to have a fulltime safety person. They do not have someone who can devote the time to put a safety program in place and as a result the safety program does not get implemented. However, lack of resources does not remove the obligation you have to meet required occupational health and safety legislation.

The "Rent a Safety Advisor" program was introduced in Calgary in 2004 and in Edmonton in 2005 to provide assistance to employers and make it easier to develop a safety program.

Members will now have access to a MHSA staff advisor to work directly with the company in implementing their health and safety program and training initiatives. The advisor will be working directly on the program with representatives from the company instead of mentoring them as has been done in the past.

What type of work will the staff advisor do for your company?

The staff advisor will do a variety of health and safety program development and improvement activities. Some of the staff advisors’ tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Developing policies;
• Conducting hazard assessments and developing safe work practices and procedures;
• Establishing and conducting training on the company standards;
• Safety meetings;
• Incident Investigation program set-up, training, and monitoring;
• Get the company prepared for the external audit required to receive your Certificate of Recognition;
• Establishing modified programs to reduce the LTC rate for the company.

What benefits are there to hiring the MHSA staff advisor?

There are many consultants in industry that do not know or understand the MHSA standards for health and safety program development and auditing practices. The MHSA staff advisor has assisted in developing and improving the MHSA standards and has in depth knowledge on how to implement an effective health and safety program using the MHSA standards.

• Lower cost compared to most consultants in industry;
• Faster, more effective development of a basic safety program to meet the MHSA standards;
• Staff advisor is more knowledgeable and experienced with the MHSA standards that companies are trying to establish at their worksite;
• Audit ready program to achieve a COR and be eligible for the WCB rebates.

Service Cost

• $350.00/ 7.5 hour workday billed to the company by the MHSA

Who qualifies for this service?

Any MHSA member company automatically qualifies for this service. Our main focus will be with smaller companies, less than 100 employees. We believe these are the companies who do not have the resources to employ a fulltime safety person and who would benefit from this type of service.

If a member company wants to book the staff advisors time to work on their health and safety program, the member company calls the MHSA office to talk to the staff advisor on program availability.

Once availability has been determined, the staff advisor will meet with the company and sign the “Health and Safety Program Development” agreement. This is a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the MHSA and the company that explains the service details.

Once the MOU is in place, the company is free to book the staff advisor for a maximum of 2 days per month.

We are now expanding this service and the program is open to all MHSA companies. If you are interested in participating or want further information contact your local MHSA office.

This service will be limited to 15 days each month in both the north and south locations so if you are interested apply early.

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