4 min
When Safety Feels Like Friction — and What Leading Alberta Employers Do Differently
How Safety Governance and Executive Oversight Strengthen Compliance and Inspection Readiness in Alberta
Read
Back to Safety Insights
Safety Programs 2018-01-29 4 min read
Prime Contractor
On multi-employer Alberta worksites, the prime contractor carries the highest level of OHS accountability. If you are the prime, you are responsible for the safety of every worker on that site — including subcontractors.
It’s not uncommon for a worksite to have more than one employer present on a worksite in Alberta. So with so much activity and so many people present on one site, there needs to be one single party that oversees and coordinates the worksite. This is where the Prime Contractor comes in.
Who is a Prime Contractor?
Alberta legislation requires that every work site where two or more employers or self-employed persons are engaged in work must have a prime contractor identified. If there is no prime contractor identified, the land owner is the prime contractor by default, however the land owner will usually transfer prime contractor duties to the builder. It is important to remember that when the responsibility of prime contractor transfers from one party to another, it is a good practice to have this agreement in writing to avoid confusion.
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 3(1-2) states that:
- Every work site must have a prime contractor if there are 2 or more employers involved in work at a work site.
- The prime contractor for a work site is:
- The contractor, employer or other person who enters into an agreement with the owner of the work site to be the prime contractor, or
- If no agreement has been made or if no agreement is in force, the owner of a work site.
What does a Prime Contractor do?
To put it simply, a Prime Contractor ensures that all employers/contractors/subcontractors on a worksite are in compliance with applicable OHS legislation and that all the trades on site interact in a safe manner. Some responsibilities of the Prime Contractor include:
- Ensuring the worksite has the required number of first aiders and first aid supplies/kits.
- Ensuring that the different employers on site communicate health and safety issues in an effective manner.
- Managing which controlled products are approved and brought to site.
- Investigating any serious incidents that occur on site
- Co-ordinates health and safety efforts of all employers on site
- Ensuring that any equipment erected or installed complies with OHS Code
When is a Prime Contractor Required?
Alberta legislation requires a prime contractor whenever there are two or more employers engaged in work at a work site. The employers do not have to be working at the same time at the site but if their health and safety activities may impact each other, a prime contractor is required.
A Worksite within a Worksite
In some instances, it may be beneficial to divide the main worksite up into smaller worksites that are within the boundaries of the main worksite. The best way to describe this situation is a worksite within a worksite. This allows the worksite owner or prime contractor to transfer prime contractor responsibilities to the employer of one of the smaller sites while still remaining responsible for the remainder of the site. With one or more employers working on the same site, there needs to be a clear division of the worksite to show which employer is working in what area. If a work site is divided in this manner, there are certain requirements that must be met. Firstly, the hazards of one work site must not impose or create a danger to workers of the other sites. This is why the work sites must be clearly divided and may include the use of barricades or fencing. Secondly, there should be no work-related interaction between the workers of the partitioned work sites. When the sites are divided in this manner, each prime contractor has the responsibility to coordinate health and safety activities and issues within their own separate sites.
Changes to the Prime Contractor responsibility under Bill 30
With the implementation of Bill 30, Prime Contractors will be required in construction, oil and gas worksites or any other projects that are designated by the OHS Director if there are 2 or more employers or self-employed persons involved in the work at a work site. They will also have added responsibilities to ensure worker health and safety such as establishing a system or process that will ensure compliance with OHS code on the worksite and to organize, coordinate and oversee the performance of all the work on the worksite, as far as it is reasonably practicable to do so, to ensure that no person is exposed to the hazards at the work site.
If you would like more information on the duties of the Prime Contractor, or you would like assistance in developing a company specific Health and Safety Management System, please give us a call at Safety Ahead (780-473-4772) and we would be more than happy to help you out!
Frequently Asked Questions
The prime contractor is the person or company who has control over the worksite and enters into an agreement with the owner to manage health and safety; if no agreement exists, the owner is the prime contractor by default. The prime contractor is the person or company who has control over the work site and is responsible for ensuring health and safety coordination among employers. If no other person has control, the owner is the prime contractor by default. The designation does not depend solely on an agreement with the owner.
A prime contractor is required whenever two or more employers or self-employed persons are involved in work at a worksite and their health and safety activities may affect each other, even if they are not working simultaneously.
The prime contractor ensures all employers comply with OHS legislation, coordinates hazard assessments and safety meetings, manages first aid requirements, controls hazardous products on site, investigates serious incidents, and ensures equipment complies with the OHS Code. The prime contractor is responsible for coordinating health and safety activities among employers at the work site, ensuring hazard assessments are conducted, facilitating communication and cooperation, and ensuring compliance with OHS legislation. Specific duties such as incident investigations, first aid management, and hazardous product control remain the responsibility of the respective employers or supervisors.
Alberta employers should consider hiring a safety consultant for fractional safety leadership, safety program development, COR audit support, or OHS compliance consulting to effectively manage prime contractor responsibilities and reduce risks on complex worksites.
Not sure if your safety program is actually complete?
Download our free Safety Program Gap Assessment — 9 elements Alberta employers should have covered before an OHS officer or auditor arrives.
Written by
Safety Ahead Team
Alberta-based safety consultants with decades of field experience — COR auditors, OHS advisors, and WCB specialists working with employers across the province.
About Safety AheadSafety Program Development
Is your safety program actually working in the field?
We build and maintain Alberta safety programs that hold up under audit and inspection — hazard assessments, orientations, procedures, and ongoing support.
Safety Ahead services
How our team can help with this in Alberta
Keep reading
More in Safety Programs
2 min
Contractor Compliance
Alberta's OHS Act places clear obligations on both prime contractors and subcontractors when multiple employers share a worksite. Understanding who is responsible for what — and when — is essential to avoiding orders and liability.
Read
3 min
Safety in a Box ™ - Keeping Workers Safe!
Safety in a Box is Alberta's small employer safety program — designed for companies that need a compliant safety system without the overhead of a full-time safety manager. Here is what it includes and whether it's right for your operation.
Read