Alberta Safety Glossary
Safety terms explained in plain language.
No jargon-only definitions. Each term is explained the way a consultant would explain it to a new client — in plain Alberta language.
Most searched Alberta safety terms
Plain definitions for the terms employers search most — each links to a full glossary entry with FAQs.
Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA)
The Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) is a non-profit industry association that serves as the primary Certifying Partner for COR certification in Alberta's construction industry. ACSA administers the COR and SECOR programs, delivers safety training, and develops safety resources for Alberta construction employers.
ComplyWorks
A Canadian contractor compliance management platform used primarily in Alberta oil and gas, utilities, and construction to verify contractor safety and insurance.
ISNetworld
A contractor management platform used by large operators to verify contractor safety, insurance, and compliance before awarding work.
Certificate of Recognition (COR)
COR is a voluntary certification awarded to Alberta employers whose occupational health and safety management system has passed an audit against a provincially endorsed standard. Holding COR can qualify the employer for WCB-Alberta premium rebates of up to 20% per year.
COR Audit
A COR audit is the formal assessment process used to verify that an employer's safety management system meets the COR standard in Alberta. COR certification requires both an internal audit (conducted by a trained internal auditor) and an external audit (conducted by a certified external auditor approved by the Certifying Partner).
Small Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR)
SECOR is the Certificate of Recognition pathway for Alberta employers with 10 or fewer workers. The employer completes the audit themselves after required training, instead of using a third-party auditor, and earns the same certificate and WCB premium rebate eligibility as full COR.
Certificate of Recognition (COR) — Alberta
COR is a voluntary certification awarded to Alberta employers whose occupational health and safety management system has passed an audit against a provincially endorsed standard. Holding COR can qualify the employer for WCB-Alberta premium rebates of up to 20% per year.
Read full definitionSmall Employer Certificate of Recognition (SECOR) — Alberta
SECOR is the Certificate of Recognition pathway for Alberta employers with 10 or fewer workers. The employer completes the audit themselves after required training, instead of using a third-party auditor, and earns the same certificate and WCB premium rebate eligibility as full COR.
Read full definitionOHS Order — Alberta
An OHS order is a written direction issued by an Alberta OHS officer requiring an employer (or other party) to comply with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, correct a specific hazard, or stop work until conditions are safe. Non-compliance can result in fines or prosecution.
Read full definitionWCB Experience Rating — Alberta
WCB experience rating is the method WCB-Alberta uses to adjust an employer's annual WCB premium based on their actual claims history compared to the industry average. Employers with fewer or lower-cost claims pay less; employers with more or higher-cost claims pay more.
Read full definitionField Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA) — Alberta
An FLHA is a documented hazard assessment completed by workers at the worksite before starting a task or when conditions change. It is required under Alberta OHS legislation and is one of the most commonly audited safety documents in Alberta.
Read full definitionPrime Contractor — Alberta OHS
In Alberta, the prime contractor is the employer or person who has overall responsibility for OHS at a worksite where multiple employers are working. The prime contractor must ensure that all employers and workers at the site comply with the OHS Act, Regulation, and Code.
Read full definitionStop Work Order — Alberta OHS
A stop work order is an OHS order issued by an Alberta OHS officer that requires all work — or a specific type of work — to stop immediately until a hazard is corrected and the officer is satisfied that work can safely resume. Continuing work in violation of a stop work order is a separate offence.
Read full definitionPartnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) — Alberta
Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) is a WCB-Alberta program that provides premium rebates to employers who hold a current COR or SECOR certificate and meet industry safety performance benchmarks. Rebates can reach up to 20% of annual WCB premiums.
Read full definitionToolbox Talk — Alberta OHS
A toolbox talk is a short, informal safety meeting held at the worksite — typically at the start of a shift or before a specific task — to discuss hazards, review procedures, or address a recent incident or near miss. Toolbox talks are a required element of most Alberta safety programs and COR audits.
Read full definitionIncident Investigation — Alberta OHS
Under Alberta OHS legislation, employers must investigate all incidents — including near misses — to identify root causes and implement corrective actions. Serious incidents must be reported to Alberta OHS and investigated using a formal process. Investigation records must be kept and made available to OHS officers on request.
Read full definitionWCB-Alberta Experience Rating
WCB-Alberta experience rating is the system that adjusts an employer's WCB premium based on their actual claims history compared to the industry average. Employers with fewer or less costly claims pay lower premiums; employers with more or costlier claims pay higher premiums.
Read full definitionHazard Assessment — Alberta OHS
A hazard assessment is a systematic process of identifying hazards associated with a job, task, or worksite and determining controls to eliminate or minimize the risk of injury or illness. Alberta OHS legislation requires employers to conduct hazard assessments before work begins and whenever conditions change.
Read full definitionRight to Refuse Unsafe Work — Alberta OHS
Under the Alberta OHS Act, every worker has the right to refuse work that they believe presents an imminent danger to their health or safety or the health or safety of others. Employers cannot discipline, threaten, or penalize a worker for exercising this right.
Read full definitionSafety Management System (SMS) — Alberta
A safety management system (SMS) is a structured, documented approach to managing health and safety risks in an organization. In Alberta, an SMS is the foundation of COR certification and typically includes a written safety program, hazard identification processes, training systems, inspection and audit processes, and incident investigation procedures.
Read full definitionContractor Prequalification — Alberta
Contractor prequalification is the process by which owners and prime contractors in Alberta verify that subcontractors meet minimum safety, insurance, and compliance requirements before being allowed to work on a project. Common prequalification platforms used in Alberta include ISNetworld, Avetta, and ComplyWorks.
Read full definitionSupervisor Competency — Alberta OHS
Under the Alberta OHS Act, every supervisor must be competent — meaning they have the knowledge, training, and experience to perform their duties safely and to ensure workers under their direction work safely. Employers are responsible for ensuring their supervisors are competent.
Read full definitionWHMIS — Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) is Canada's national hazard communication standard for workplace chemicals. WHMIS 2015 aligns with the Globally Harmonized System (GHS) and requires employers to ensure workers are trained on hazardous products and have access to Safety Data Sheets (SDS).
Read full definitionReturn to Work (RTW) — Alberta WCB
Return to work (RTW) is the process of helping an injured worker return to productive employment as early and safely as possible after a workplace injury. Alberta employers have a legal obligation to offer suitable modified work to injured workers, and WCB-Alberta supports RTW as a key part of the claims management process.
Read full definitionAlberta Occupational Health and Safety Act
The Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act is the primary legislation governing workplace health and safety in Alberta. It establishes the rights and duties of employers, supervisors, workers, and other parties, and gives OHS officers the authority to inspect worksites, issue orders, and investigate incidents.
Read full definitionJoint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) — Alberta
A Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is a workplace committee with equal representation from workers and management that participates in identifying hazards, reviewing safety programs, and making recommendations to improve workplace safety. Alberta OHS legislation requires JHSCs at worksites with 20 or more workers.
Read full definitionSafety Program — Alberta OHS
An Alberta safety program is a written document that describes how an employer will identify and control hazards, train workers, investigate incidents, and continuously improve safety performance. Employers with 20 or more workers are legally required to have a written safety program under the Alberta OHS Act.
Read full definitionFractional Safety Manager — Alberta
A fractional safety manager is an experienced safety professional who works with an Alberta employer on a part-time or retainer basis — providing senior safety leadership on retainer without adding a full-time safety employee to payroll. Common for growing contractors who need more than occasional consulting but are not ready to add full-time safety staff.
Read full definitionSerious Incident — Alberta OHS
A serious incident in Alberta OHS is an incident that results in a fatality, a critical injury, or a dangerous occurrence as defined in the OHS Act. Serious incidents must be reported to Alberta OHS immediately and must be investigated using a formal process. The worksite must not be disturbed until an OHS officer has investigated.
Read full definitionAlberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA)
The Alberta Construction Safety Association (ACSA) is a non-profit industry association that serves as the primary Certifying Partner for COR certification in Alberta's construction industry. ACSA administers the COR and SECOR programs, delivers safety training, and develops safety resources for Alberta construction employers.
Read full definitionJob Hazard Analysis (JHA) — Alberta
A Job Hazard Analysis (JHA) is a systematic process for identifying hazards associated with specific job tasks and determining controls to eliminate or reduce the risk of injury. In Alberta, JHAs are a foundational element of any OHS-compliant safety program.
Read full definitionHSE Management — Alberta
HSE management (Health, Safety, and Environment management) refers to the systems, programs, and leadership practices an organization uses to manage workplace health and safety risks and environmental obligations. In Alberta, HSE management is a regulatory requirement for most employers under the OHS Act.
Read full definitionModified Work / Modified Duties — Alberta
Modified work (also called modified duties or light duties) refers to temporary changes to a worker's job tasks, hours, or physical demands to accommodate a work-related injury or illness while the worker recovers. In Alberta, offering modified work is a key component of an effective return-to-work program and directly affects WCB claims costs.
Read full definitionCOR Audit — Alberta
A COR audit is the formal assessment process used to verify that an employer's safety management system meets the COR standard in Alberta. COR certification requires both an internal audit (conducted by a trained internal auditor) and an external audit (conducted by a certified external auditor approved by the Certifying Partner).
Read full definitionWCB Claims Management — Alberta
WCB claims management refers to the employer's active involvement in managing a WCB-Alberta claim from the moment of injury through to claim closure. Effective claims management reduces claim costs, protects the employer's experience rating, and supports injured worker recovery.
Read full definitionFLRA (Field Level Risk Assessment)
A site-specific hazard identification and control document completed by workers at the worksite before starting a task. In Alberta, FLRA and FLHA are used interchangeably.
Read full definitionISNetworld
A contractor management platform used by large operators to verify contractor safety, insurance, and compliance before awarding work.
Read full definitionAvetta
A contractor prequalification and supply chain risk management platform used by large clients to verify contractor safety and compliance. More common in retail, manufacturing, and utilities than ISNetworld.
Read full definitionComplyWorks
A Canadian contractor compliance management platform used primarily in Alberta oil and gas, utilities, and construction to verify contractor safety and insurance.
Read full definitionToolbox Talk
A short, informal safety meeting held at the worksite — typically at the start of a shift — to discuss a specific hazard, procedure, or safety topic.
Read full definitionSafety Data Sheet (SDS)
A standardized document that describes the hazards, safe handling, storage, and emergency response information for a hazardous product. Required under Alberta WHMIS legislation.
Read full definitionPersonal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Equipment worn by workers to minimize exposure to hazards that cannot be eliminated or controlled by other means. The last line of defence in the hierarchy of controls.
Read full definitionOHS Regulation Alberta
The Alberta regulation that sets out administrative requirements for workplace health and safety, including joint worksite health and safety committees, records, and incident reporting.
Read full definitionOHS Code Alberta
The Alberta regulation containing detailed technical requirements for specific workplace hazards and work activities — working at heights, confined space, electrical, lockout/tagout, and more.
Read full definitionHave a safety question that isn't in the glossary?
We work with Alberta employers on OHS orders, COR audits, safety programs, and more.
Ask a Safety Consultant