Bill 30: Safety Program Requirements

What Bill 30 Changed for Alberta Employers

With the changes introduced by Bill 30 that are required to be implemented by June 1, 2018, many company owners are worried and wondering what this will mean for them in regards to the safety program requirement.

Who Needs a Written Safety Program Under Alberta OHS Law

In short, As of 2026, Alberta OHS law requires employers with 20 or more workers regularly employed at a work site to establish a Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee or appoint a Health and Safety Representative, but does not mandate a general written health and safety program for all such employers. Only specific programs, such as the consolidated violence and harassment prevention plan, must be reviewed at least every 3 years or when triggered by certain events; there is no general 3-year review requirement for a broad health and safety program. The written program must include, at a minimum, the listed mandated elements.

The Mandated Elements Your Program Must Include

The mandated elements that must be included are:

• A Health and Safety Policy that states the company’s commitment to the protection and maintenance of the health and safety of workers at the work site;
• Employers must identify and control hazards including violence and harassment, but these are addressed through specific programs such as the consolidated violence and harassment prevention plan rather than a single mandated written program covering all hazard types.
• Emergency response plans are required where applicable based on the nature of the work or hazards present, but there is no universal requirement for all employers to have a written Emergency Response Program with site-specific plans and maps.
• A statement of the responsibilities of the employer, supervisors and workers at the work site;
• A schedule and procedures for regular inspection of the work site;
• Procedures to be followed to protect health and safety when another employer or self-employed person is involved in work at the work site, including criteria for evaluating and selecting and for regularly monitoring those employers and self-employed persons;
• Worker and supervisor health and safety orientation and training;
• Procedures for investigating incidents, injuries and refusals to work;
• Procedures for worker participation in work site health and safety, including inspections and the investigation of incidents, injuries and refusals to work;
• Procedures for reviewing and revising the health and safety program if circumstances at a work site change in a way that creates or could create a hazard to workers;
• Any elements set out in the regulations.

In addition to having the written health and safety program, the employer is also responsible for implementing the health and safety program.

What Smaller Alberta Employers Should Still Do

Employers with fewer than 20 workers are encouraged to involve workers in hazard assessments, but are not legally required to have or involve a health and safety representative unless one has been appointed or requested.

How Safety Ahead Can Help You Comply

Luckily for you, we at Safety Ahead can help you with all these changes! We can develop a written health and safety program that includes all the above listed elements, and more! Our customized programs are specific to your company and we can also assist with implementing the program! Give us a call today and let us take your stress away!