Occupational Health and Safety Act

The Occupational Health and Safety Act provides the overall legislative framework for workplace health and safety rules in Alberta.

• Definitions and Purposes of this Act
  • 1 Definitions
  • 2 Purposes of this Act
  • 3 Obligations of employers
  • 4 Obligations of supervisors
  • 5 Obligations of workers
  • 6 Obligations of suppliers
  • 7 Obligations of service providers
  • 8 Obligations of contracting employers
  • 9 Obligations of owners
  • 10 Obligations of prime contractors
  • 11 Obligations of temporary staffing agencies
  • 12 Multiple obligations
  • 13 Joint health and safety committees
  • 14 Health and safety representative
  • 15 Inspection of work site with officer
  • 16 Health and safety program
  • 17 Right to refuse dangerous work
  • 18 Where disciplinary action prohibited
  • 19 Disciplinary action complaint
  • 20 Acceptances
  • 21 Allowances
  • 22 Approvals
  • 23 Inter‒jurisdictional recognition
  • 24 Licences
  • 25 Powers and duties of the Minister
  • 26 Staff
  • 27 Powers of a Director
  • 28 Duties of officers
  • 29 Medical examination
  • 30 Notice of findings
  • 31 Medical report
  • 32 Examination of workers exposed to hazards
  • 33 Serious injuries, illnesses, incidents and worker exposure to radiation
  • 34 Inspection
  • 35 Identification
  • 36 Investigation
  • 37 Hindering an officer
  • 38 Order to ensure compliance
  • 39 Stop work orders
  • 40 Stop use orders
  • 41 Director’s authority
  • 42 Enforcement of compliance with order
  • 43 Awarding costs
  • 44 Administrative penalties
  • 45 Appeal
  • 46 Hearing of appeal
  • 47 Offences
  • 48 Penalties
  • 49 Additional powers of court to make directions
  • 50 Effect of non‒payment
  • 51 Agreements regarding research and educational programs
  • 52 Advisors
  • 53 Exchange of information
  • 54 Publication of information about employers
  • 55 Posting orders, reports, plans and procedures
  • 56 Occupational health and safety surveillance program
  • 57 Funded organizations
  • 58 Designated organizations
  • 59 Furthering occupational health and safety
  • 60 Lieutenant Governor in Council regulations
  • 61 OHS Code
  • 62 Provisions affecting the regulations and the OHS Code
  • 63 Administration costs
  • 64 Service of documents
  • 65 Liability of officials
  • 66 Act binds Crown
  • 67 Dissolution of Occupational Health and Safety Advisory Council
  • 68 Transitional — regulations
  • 69 Transitional — acceptances, approvals and licences
  • 70 Transitional — orders and administrative penalties
  • 71 Transitional — investigation
  • 72 Transitional — refusal of dangerous work and discriminatory action
  • 73 Transitional — serious injuries and incidents
  • 74 Transitional — Director review and appeal
  • 75 Transitional — staff
  • 76 Transitional — radiation protection
  • 77 Repeal
  • 78 Coming into force

  The OHS Act is the overarching legislation that governs Alberta's occupational health and safety system. It contains definitions, general requirements such as responsibilities of workplace parties and defines workers' basic rights and health and safety protections.

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  Alberta King's Printer

  Official copies of Alberta’s OHS legislation are available through Alberta King’s Printer

  This material is sourced from the Alberta King’s Printer consolidation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and Occupational Health and Safety Code and, while thought to be accurate, is provided without warranty of any kind. The material provided is solely for the user’s information and convenience. All persons making use of consolidated legislation are reminded that it has no legislative sanction, that amendments have been embodied for convenience of reference only. The official Statutes and Regulations should be consulted for all purposes of interpreting and applying the law. The Crown, its agents, employees or contractors will not be liable to you for any damages, direct or indirect, arising out of your use of this material. If in doubt with respect to any information contained within this material, or for confirmation of legal requirements, please refer to the official Statutes and Regulations of Alberta. If there is any inconsistency or conflict between any of this material and the legislation, the legislation shall prevail. This material is current to March 2023. This material may be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for non-commercial purposes. The source of this material must be acknowledged when publishing or issuing it to others. This material is not to be used, reproduced, stored or transmitted for commercial purposes without written permission from the Government of Alberta.

  © Alberta King's Printer, 2024.

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