COVID-19 Information for Alberta

In an effort to make sure you are receiving the most accurate information on what’s happening in Alberta in regards to the COVID-19 cases that are now appearing in our province, please be sure to check the Government of Alberta Website.

You can find the most up-to-date information here.

COVID-19 & How MHSA is responding. 

Like most businesses in Alberta, and throughout the world right now, we are keeping a vigilant eye on the Alberta Government Website for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the spread of COVID-19 in Alberta. Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to keep our staff and students as healthy and risk-free as possible at this time. Some things we are doing / we are asking our students to be mindful of include:

• Staying home if you feel ill, or notice any form of symptoms related to COVID-19 (fever, cough, extreme fatigue)

• If you notice any symptoms please contact your local MHSA office and we will reschedule your training for a later date

• Wash your hands - Often!

• Use Hand sanitizer - each of our classrooms have a bottle available

• Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze - preferably into an elbow or tissue 

• MHSA will be switching to a stronger cleaning agent for our daily cleaning

We will continue to provide you with up-to-date information as it becomes available to us, and as we adapt our strategy to keep the risk of infection low for both our staff and students. 

Fatigue in the Workplace

Daylight Savings Time may give us an extra hour of daylight, but it also increases the risk of workplace injuries.

Researchers in the States analyzed information between 1983-2006 and found that there were 5.7% more workplace injuries and 67.6% more work days missed due to injuries that happened on the first Monday following Daylight Savings than on other days. (https://www.ccohs.ca/newsletters/hsreport/issues/2011/02/ezine.html#hsreport-inthenews)

For more information on what effects fatigue could have on workers, and how employers can protect their workers from fatigue related injuries, please see the Bulletin released by OHS on Fatigue, Extended Work Hours, and Workplace Safety.

POSTPONED: MHSA Regional Spring Update Meetings

Investigations - Prevention, Reaction, After Affects

In light of COVID-19 MHSA has decided to postpone all Regional Update Meetings until further notice. We appreciate your understanding.

We would like to invite you to Save The Date to attend our Members Spring Update Meeting for 2020. This years topic will be centered around Investigations: Prevention, reaction, and the After Affects. As well as all relevant MHSA Updates.

Cost: $30.00

Rocky View: April 28th, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: @ Hotel Blackfoot 5940 Blackfoot Trail SE Calgary
To Register please email: Maggie@mhsa.ab.ca

Edmonton: May 1st, 10:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: @ MHSA 225 Parsons Road SW
To Register please email: Richelle@mhsa.ab.ca

Red Deer: May 5th, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location: @ MHSA 54 Queensland Crescent
To Register please email: Lori.Lerminiaux@mhsa.ab.ca

More information regarding presenters will be available soon. We look forward to seeing you there!



OHS Online Incident Reporting Service

The OHS Online Incident Reporting Service is now Live!

What’s new with the OHS Online Incident Reporting service?

-        It uses MyAlberta Digital ID for Business accounts. 

-        Now employers can set up an account and have all their information in one spot. For more information on MyAlberta Digital ID for Business, see the new webinar

-        Employers no longer have to complete an online report all at once, they can save the record and complete it at another time.

-        Employers can have multiple users on one account. 

·         Employers can upload their investigation reports, instead of manually entering the information.

To increase your understanding of PSIs’s, watch the webinar below!

Alberta Health and Safety Conference 2020

The MHSA team would like to send a huge THANK YOU to the Alberta Health and Safety Conference for another year of amazing hospitality. Everyone who attended had a great time meeting and mingling with others working in the Health and Safety field.

At the conference we held a draw for one Registration into our new Workplace Violence and Harassment Course - the winner of that draw was Jude Groves, from Rosenau Transport Ltd. Congratulations!

Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace

OHS has released a bulletin regarding Respiratory Viruses and the Workplace. This bulletin contains information and links including:

• viral transmission

• where to gain more information about new viruses

• controls and best practices that can be implemented

• what to do in case of an outbreak, etc.

This bulletin can be found on the OHS Online Resource Portal here.

Insurance Requirements for Farms and Ranches

The Alberta government recently introduced new legislation that impacts workplace insurance requirements for farms and ranches. These changes will take effect January 31, 2020

You can access more information here, through the WCB Alberta website.

Right to Refuse Dangerous Work - Resource

Alberta Labour and Immigration has provided a new information bulletin about the Right to Refuse Dangerous Work.

A few keys points from the bulletin include:

• Workers have a right to refuse work that creates a dangerous condition.

• Dangerous conditions involves health and safety hazards not normal to the job.

• Employers and workers are required to work together to remedy the dangerous condition.

• A work refusal does not entitle the worker to abandon the work site unless necessary for health and safety reasons.

For more information on the employer and worker obligations, as well as the work refusal process, please view the information bulletin. It can also be found on the OHS Resource Portal.

WCB-Alberta Annual Return Deadline

The deadline to file your WCB-Alberta annual return is Feb. 29, 2020

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.

Filing your return online is quick and easy. Built-in calculations, error checking, and simple navigation makes the process easier than ever. All you need is your PIN letter containing your account number and password which will be mailed out starting at the end of December.

The deadline to file your annual return is February 29, 2020. 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 2019 PIR refund.

Need help filling out your return? Check out the online demo located in the Insurance and premiums>Annual returns section of the WCB website at wcb.ab.ca.

For more information on your 2019 annual return and 2020 premium rates, please see the December 2019 issue of the WCB-Alberta Worksight newsletter.

Requirements for Health and Safety Committees and Representatives have CHANGED

On Friday December 13th, the Alberta Government announced the changes that would be taking place to the requirements for Health and Safety Committee (HSC) and Representatives (HSR).

The key changes include:

• Employer-based rather than site-based requirements for HSCs and HS representatives. Employers have until January 31, 2020 to comply.

• Eliminating the Part 1 prerequisite HSC/HS representative training. This change is effective immediately.

The following links contain all of the information you will need regarding these changes:

Health and safety committees and representatives

Mandatory health and safety committee and representative training