OHS Contact Orders

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Officers have the authority to issue orders to employers and worksite parties that require specific actions that will result in compliance with Alberta OHS legislation.

What is a Contact Order?

OHS Orders are issued to the employer or worksite party in the form of an OHS Contact Report. The report will include the details of the order including:

• The section of Alberta OHS legislation that the order is issued under. There may be several sections listed and a contact report can have multiple orders that require action.
• Officer observations. The OHS Officer that issues the Contact Report will conduct an inspection of the worksite and will document their observations on the Contact Report.
• The actions required in order to obtain compliance with OHS legislation.
• The Contact Report will specify compliance dates only for compliance orders; stop-work orders require immediate cessation of work and do not include a remedy date.

What types of orders can be issued?

There are several types of orders that can be issued and for various reasons.

Compliance orders require action by a specific date; any extension of this deadline is at the discretion of the OHS officer and is not guaranteed.

Stop Work Orders require immediate cessation of work on the affected area(s) and remain in place until the specified requirements are fully complied with; no timeline for resolution is provided in the order.

No correction needed.

Director’s Orders are legally binding orders issued under the OHS Act that can impose requirements beyond those of OHS Officers, including establishing codes of practice, health and safety programs, stopping work on projects, requiring regular work site inspections, and filing project notices.

Can an OHS Order be reviewed or challenged?

Yes — but it's a legal step, not a safety one. If you believe an order is wrong, Alberta gives you a limited window (generally 30 days, with strict deadlines) to formally challenge it. Because it's a legal process, it's handled through a lawyer who specializes in OHS law — not a safety consultant. If you're considering it, get legal advice right away.

Either way, challenging an order does not pause it: the work must still stop or the correction must still be made by the deadline unless you're formally granted a stay. That compliance side is where most employers focus — and where we help. Safety Ahead works alongside employers to understand exactly what the order requires, fix the hazard, and document compliance so the file closes.

How can I Comply with an Order?

The Contact Report will provide the specific requirements on how to comply with the orders given. Determine what steps need to be taken and who will be responsible to complete/implement the requirements by the date stated on the Contact Report.

OHS recommends that companies request the assistance of a third party consultant if the company is inexperienced in dealing with these matters or if they do not have a designated safety person. This will help to ensure that the Contact Report and orders are effectively dealt with and compliance with legislation is obtained by the required date. This can be the easiest, least stressful route at times. OHS Contact Reports can be varying lengths and can have numerous requirements, depending on the situation. It is important to deal with OHS Orders immediately to prevent them from affecting your company operations and finances.

If you have received an OHS Contact Report and are unsure of how to deal with it, let us help. Safety Ahead has experience in dealing with various types of OHS Orders and can assist you in obtaining legislative compliance in a timely manner. Please, give us a call, and let us help you.

Resources:

Alberta Government