Workplaces throughout Alberta are updating their health and safety programs.  Recent amendments to the Occupational Health & Safety Code¹, which came into effect on February 1, 2007, include changes to over 100 different sections.  Revisions vary from typing corrections to minor regulatory changes and clarifications, to significant overhauls of some requirements.  Two new “Parts” have also been added.

Now referred to as the Occupational Health & Safety Code 2006 (based on the year the amendments became law), this latest edition takes precedence over previous versions.   Alberta Workplace Health & Safety has published a document in which the 2003 and 2006 versions are compared, section by section².

In Table 1, below, we’ve provided a guide to indicate which Parts of the Code have changed³.  Some of the key changes are described first.

New Definitions:  Several new terms are defined in Part 1, including:

• “harmful substance” – a term used extensively in Part 4;
• “hazardous energy” – an important concept used in the new approach to “lockout” (Part 15);
• “snubbing” – an activity which is now included in oil and gas well servicing operations regulated in Part 37; and many others.

 New Standards Adopted:   Over 40 additional standards have been adopted.  These originate from CSA, NFPA, ULC and other standard-setting bodies.  (See our previous article for more discussion on standards.)

New Approach to Fire & Explosion Hazards:  In a recent presentation⁶, an Alberta Workplace Health & Safety representative described the “new philosophy” about controlling fire and explosion hazards.  The new approach, embodied in revisions to Part 10 of the OH&S Code 2006, focuses on controlling all points of the “fire triangle”.  Regulatory requirements address fuel, oxygen and heat/ ignition sources that can combine to create a combustion reaction.

Revision of “Lockout” Requirements:  Part 15, previously entitled “Lockout”, has been renamed “Control of Hazardous Energy”.  This comprehensive revision addresses various forms of energy: electrical, mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, chemical, gravitational and others. Hazardous energy is controlled by following four key steps:

• Isolate energy source
• Test to verify isolation
• Secure the isolation
• Return to operation, when safe.

Three options for securing the isolation are described: individual, group, and complex group.  The options provide choices for managing locks or other securing devices, as well as conditions under which they can be used.

New Parts to OH&S Code 2006:  Part 40, entitled “Utility Workers – Electrical”, sets out safe work practices for electric utilities, rural electrification associations and industrial power producers.  Many requirements of the Alberta Electrical and Communication Utility Code have been adopted in this Part.

Part 41, “Work Requiring Rope Access”, is another addition.  It “establishes safety requirements for work that uses rope-based techniques for gaining access to locations that are difficult to access by other means”⁶.  Several European standards for rope-access equipment have been adopted in this Part.

If you haven’t assessed how the Occupational Health & Safety Code 2006 will affect your organization, now’s the time.

References and Endnotes:

1. Alberta Occupational Health & Safety Code, enacted under the Occupational Health & Safety Act (Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry).
2. Workplace Health & Safety Bulletin: “Occupational Health & Safety (OH&S) Code – Comparison of OH&S Code 2003 and OH&S Code 2006”, Publication LI026, Alberta Human Resources & Employment, November 2006.
3. Refer to References 1 & 2, cited above, for complete details.
4. Alberta Human Resources and Employment has recently changed its name to Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry.  Some publications may still be listed under the former name.
5. “Alberta’s Occupational Health & Safety Code Sets the Standard”, published on Guzzardi & Associates website, www.guzzardiassociatesohc.com
6. “Changes to Alberta’s OHS Code: Highlights 2006”, Presented by Kenn Hample, Workplace Policy and Standards, Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry, March 5, 2006.

This article is provided as introductory information only.  Cited references, and other literature, should be consulted for complete details.    Copyright 2007 Escalade Services Group Inc.