Safety Scoop- Jan 2023 Legislative Rights & Responsibilities

Safety Scoop- January 2023

Our Safety Scoop this month is focused on all levels of workers knowing and understanding their rights and responsibilities according to Alberta OHS Act. Legislation is there to protect workers and employers from incidents and injuries, but it can only do so when everyone knows how it applies to them on the worksite. If everyone understands rights and responsibilities it can also assist to creating a safer work environment for everyone.  

January’s Safety Scoop will help everyone get on the same page!

Here's the Scoop:

• Learn what Alberta OHS legislation is.

• Learn what the three basic rights for all workers in Alberta are.

• Break down how the rights apply to workers.

• Learn what responsibilities workers, supervisor and employers have according to legislation and how the three rights play into this.

• And much more!

Get the Training

Navigating OHS Legislation

Reading, navigating and understanding legislation is a crucial skill to ensure the workplace is following the law and as safe as can be. This is an introductory course to Alberta OHS legislation. Learn how to find your way around the OHS handbook (both the hardcopy and the website), by taking our Navigating Alberta OHS Legislation course.

This 1-day course gives the participants a basic understanding of the structure of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Participants will learn to successfully navigate the OHS Handbook by completing individual exercises and activities. Each participant will receive an OHS Handbook to participate in this course.

Topics covered in the training include:

• Introduction to Alberta’s OHS Legislation

• Alberta’s OHS Act

• Alberta’s OHS Regulation

• Alberta’s OHS Code and Explanation Guide

• Navigating the handbook & OHS Website

• Learn key skills to navigate legislation and locate specific sections and topics

December 2022 Safety Scoop: Moving Machinery & Equipment

Safety Scoop December 2022

December 2022

This month’s safety scoop has dropped. This month we are talking about a huge element of the manufacturing industry- Machines and moving equipment are a pivotal part of workplace processes.  While moving parts are essential to the operation of any business, they can be extremely dangerous if you don’t fully understand the hazards and controls.

December’s Safety Scoop will discuss identifying hazardous parts of equipment and controls that are in place to protect you from these hazards.

Here's the Scoop:

-        What legislation applying to moving parts and equipment?

-        What are the most common safe work practices when working around machinery?

-        What are the most common injuries and how can I recognize them?

-        How can I prevent them?

-        What are the different types of hazard controls when working with machinery?

-        And much more…

Get the Training

Basic Machine Guarding

Working in and around machines and equipment is an every day task in the manufacturing industry which leaves our workers at risk of injuries. This 1-day course teaches participants the importance of safety guards and devices on heavy machinery to prevent machine related injuries. Employee injuries due to exposure to unguarded or inadequately guarded machines are preventable and this course focuses on recognizing and controlling general hazards associated with the operation of machinery. Learn the importance of lock out tag out, employers and employees responsibilites for safe operation of machinery.

Topics covered in the training include:

Recognizing and controlling common machinery hazards

• Point of operation guarding

• Power transmission devices

• Machinery operating controls

• Hazardous motions and actions

• Alberta OH&S Safeguard requirements

• Recognize the advantages and limitations of safeguarding devices

https://www.mhsa.ab.ca/basic-machine-guarding

Last Call for Audits!

This is a final reminder for the year that all audits must be submitted no later then December 31st, 2022 @ 11:59pm to qualify for COR rebates in 2022. There will be no late submissions received. All COR audits must be submitted through the Bistrainer tool and SECOR’s must be submitted to cor@mhsa.ab.ca.

If you have any questions on this matter, please ensure to contact our COR department to discuss.

Alberta OHS 2023 Change Highlights

Alberta OHS has published changes that will take effect on March 31, 2023. Find out the latest updates now. In specific to our industry here are a few noted changes that could effect your workplace.

Be informed . Find out more from OHS

OHS Publication. Upcoming legislation changes (alberta.ca)

Change highlights: Miscellaneous amendments in the OHS Code

Part 11- First Aid

OHS Publication. Change highlights: First Aid – Part 11 in the OHS Code (alberta.ca)

Part 15 Managing control of hazardous energy

OHS Publication. Change highlights: Managing control of hazardous energy - Part 15 in the OHS Code (alberta.ca)

Part 16 Noise exposure

OHS Publications. Changes highlights: Noise Exposure- Part 16 in the OHS Code (alberta.ca)

WCB News -Alberta annual return deadline is February 28, 2023

Calling all employers!

Are you an employer with workers?  If so, you’re required to fill out an annual return reporting your workers’ assessable earnings paid in the last year along with what earnings you expect to pay in the upcoming year. This is important information to ensure you’re paying the correct premium amount.

If you are enrolled in the Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program, it is important you submit your return on time as late filing may prevent you from receiving your 2022 PIR refund.

Beginning January 1, 2023, you can submit your 2023 annual return by just logging into myWCB and selecting File my annual return. You have until February 28, 2023 to file.

If you need support to access a myWCB account, contact us or call us at 780-498-7688 in Edmonton or 1-866-922-9221 toll free Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. We are here to help!

Check out the latest version of WCB- Alberta Worksight 2022, Issue 10

For more information, visit our website. 

November 2022 Safety Scoop- Cyberbullying

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Last months Safety Scoop focused on Cyberbullying. We joined forces with IT specialists Alt-tech Inc. to extend workplace prevention initiatives into the home..

We will review how to identify Cyberbullying and what to do if you, a loved one or a co-worker has been subject to this serious and growing concern.

Here's The Scoop:

• What impact does cyberbullying have?

• What effect does cyberbullying have on this next generation?

• How can cyberbullying be prevented?

•  What are some safe practices when working online?

• And much more…

  Get the Training

  Workplace Violence & Harassment

  Harassment and violence can occur at any worksite. With increasingly stringent regulations being rolled out to protect workers, it is now more important than ever to provide your employees, managers, and supervisors with workplace harassment training. This course from MHSA trains all your workers and helps you — the employer — to maintain compliance with new Alberta rules and regulations.

  Topics covered in the training include:

  • Alberta OH&S Code Part 27 Violence

  • Statistical analysis to help you understand the prevalence of workplace violence and harassment

  • Types of workplace violence and harassment

  • The negative impact of workplace violence and harassment

  • Identifying potential workplace violence and harassment

  • How to avoid workplace violence and harassment, no matter your role in the company

  • Developing and implementing prevention plans, including policies and procedures

Alberta OHS Prevention Initiative

The OHS prevention initiative focuses on reducing common workplace injuries, protecting at-risk workers and identifying higher-risk work situations.

Check out the latest publications released from OHS on the three targeted initiatives. This includes posters, bulletins and much more.

20th Alberta Health & Safety Conference Announcement

The Health & Safety Conference Society of Alberta (HSCSA) is excited to announce the dates of our upcoming 2023 conference. The conference will take place on:

Dates: Wednesday April 26 & Thursday April 27, 2023
Location: The Westin Calgary Airport, Calgary, AB

Stay tuned, registration details will follow in the upcoming months.

October 1, 2022 Safety Scoop: Ergonomics

Ergonomics

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This months Safety Scoop focus is on Ergonomics. Ergonomics is the discipline that focuses on the design of equipment, tasks and work environments to minimize worker fatigue, discomfort, and injury while still maximizing performance.

Ergonomics can be described in many ways. It can be described as the study of people’s efficiency in their working environment or even the science of designing or arranging things in use to interact with the body most efficiently. In simple words, ergonomics is the ‘fit’ between people and their tasks.

Here's The Scoop:

• Why is ergonomics important?

• What effect does ergonomics have on the Manufacturing Industry?

• How can ergonomic injuries be prevented?

•  Who can conduct an ergonomic assessment?

• And much more…

Basic Machine Guarding

Injuries in the workplace due to improperly set up machine and equipment or unguarded or inadequately guarded machines are preventable. This 1-day course focuses on recognizing and controlling the general hazards that can be encountered when operating machinery and equipment in the workplace. This course focuses on teaching the importance of safety guards and devices on heavy machinery.

Topics include:

• Recognizing and controlling common machinery hazards

• Point of operation guarding

• Power transmission devices

• Machinery operating controls

• Hazardous motions and actions

• Alberta OH&S Safeguard requirements

Visit our course calendar to explore other courses, see availability in your region, and register today!

September 2022 Safety Scoop: Emergency Response Equipment

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No company wants to experience an actual emergency in the workplace. The best thing you can do is to be prepared, plan ahead and have the proper emergency response equipment available.

When preparing for emergency response having the proper equipment available can save lives. In this month’s Safety Scoop, MHSA will provide resources on the importance of understanding the purpose of and application of Emergency Response Equipment.

Here's The Scoop

• What are the OHS requirements for emergency preparedness?

• Does your workplace have appropriate plans in place that include assessing the risk of workplace activities?

• Do you know what equipment is needed for all types of potential and actual emergencies at your workplace?

• And much more…

Get the Training

Emergency Response Planning

This four-hour course will assist employers in identifying worksite-specific emergencies that may require rescue or evacuation and then developing safe and effective response plans, in accordance with Part 7 of the Alberta OH&S Code.

Topics include:

• Emergency Response Overview, Team Planning and Risk Assessment

• Emergency Mitigation, Preparedness, Assessing Response Capabilities, and Recovery & Disaster Management

• Leadership, Teamwork, Communication and Inter-Agency Collaboration

• Strategic Planning, Decision Making, Problem Solving and Continuous Improvement

Fire Extinguisher Training

This 4-hour "Hands-On" course is intended to give shop, field and office workers a basic understanding of the physical characteristics of fire and the safe use and limitations of portable fire-fighting equipment.

If a fire breaks out at your workplace, the ability to properly use a fire extinguisher could prevent a small fire from becoming large and causing significant damage. You’ll learn all the basics for fighting fires with our fire extinguisher training. Participants even have the chance to put their skills into practice with a live fire.

Topics include:

• Combustion process and how fires burn

• Fuel and heat types

• Common types of fire extinguishers and extinguishing agents

• Steps involved in extinguishing a fire: P.A.S.S. (Pull the pin, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep)

• Basic fire safety guidelines, including the Occupational Health &

  Safety Act, Regulation & Code

Visit our course calendar to explore other courses, see availability in your region, and register today!