Safety System Design

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Part 2, Section 16

An employer who regularly employs 20 or more workers - or on the direction of a Director shall, subject to the OHS Code, establish and implement a health and safety program.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.1

“Health and safety program” means a coordinated system of procedures, processes and other measures that is designed to be implemented by organizations in order to promote continuous improvement in occupational health and safety.

Cooperation Among Multiple Employers

If there are multiple employers at a work site, employers must cooperate in their health and safety efforts and communicate the coordinated system to all work site parties.

Prime Contractor Responsibilities

If there are multiple employers at a work site and a prime contractor exists, the prime contractor has a duty to:

Set up a system or processes to coordinate the safety programs of the employers on site. These must ensure compliance with OHS legislation at the work site.
Make sure information flows across the work site. This includes ensuring all work site parties know about existing or potential site hazards.
Assign an individual responsible for coordinating health and safety between employers and workers and performing the duties of an HSC.

What to Include in an OHSMS

Flexibility in OHSMS Development

Alberta OHS does not prescribe mandatory elements required to be included in a workplace OHSMS. Employers have the flexibility to develop safety programs that best suit their workplaces and associated hazards.

Legislative Considerations

There are specific requirements, rights & obligations documented within OHS legislation that should be considered for inclusion in an OHSMS to support an employer’s efforts at discharging a duty of care (due diligence). Examples include hazard assessment, health and safety committees, and worker training.

Foundational Elements of an OHSMS

The following foundational elements can help build a well-rounded health and safety program for your organization.

Management Leadership and Commitment
Hazard Identification, Assessment, and Control
Health and Safety Committee
Competency and Training
Procedures When Others Are on Site
Work Analysis & Ongoing Inspections.
Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan
Incident Reporting and Investigation
Procedures for Work Refusals
Worker Participation
Occupational Health Assessments

Safety is a team sport and so is designing or updating your Occupational Health and Safety System.

Does your OHS management system support workers in remote locations

Additional Elements to Consider

Depending on your work site, your health and safety program may also include other elements, such as procedures for working alone or handling and storing hazardous materials.

Continuous Improvement in OHS Programs

A good health and safety program includes elements that demonstrate leadership and commitment and ensure the program stays current and continuously improves.

Attribution

Some material is copied under license from https://open.alberta.ca/publications

Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Alberta.

https://open.alberta.ca/licence

Benefits of Implementing Cloud-Based OHSMS

Safety is a Value

In some industries, the difference between winning and losing a contract is a good safety record and safety certifications.

One key benefit is the ability to capture real-time data, which can benefit your operations, and convert that dynamic data into information that is instantly shared across the organization.

Most often, this results in Managers being empowered to make smarter decisions – faster!

Automated Business Processes

The ability to bring together real-time data and automate workflows & business processes using technology.

Time savings from reducing administrative overhead by eliminating paper-based tasks and manual workflows.

The Devil is in the Detail:

Forgetting to close a corrective action is eliminated.
Eliminate duplicate data entry
You have a single source of truth for Safety Data
Duplicate storage of files is eliminated.
Enterprise wide sharing of information.
Custom reporting for diverse business units or individuals.
Safety documentation archives and record keeping is automated.

Risk Management Benefits

Developing a Baseline Understanding

Historical data supplies a baseline understanding of the job site’s risk environment, companies can identify patterns, trends, and potential risk factors by gathering and examining data on incidents, and safety observations.

Making Evidence-Based Decisions

The most informed safety-related decisions are based on solid facts, requiring access to sufficient data. When using correct and trustworthy information, stakeholders can decide on risk reduction tactics, resource allocation, and safety enhancements.

Comprehensive OHS Solutions

Requirement to Establish a Health and Safety Program in Alberta

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Part 2, Section 16

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.1

Cooperation Among Multiple Employers

What to Include in an OHSMS

Additional Elements to Consider

Attribution

Benefits of Implementing Cloud-Based OHSMS

Risk Management Benefits

Get Started With Safety System Design

Comprehensive OHS Solutions

Requirement to Establish a Health and Safety Program in Alberta

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Part 2, Section 16

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.1

Cooperation Among Multiple Employers

What to Include in an OHSMS

Additional Elements to Consider

Attribution

Benefits of Implementing Cloud-Based OHSMS

Risk Management Benefits

Get Started With Safety System Design

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