OHS Order Response Checklist for Alberta employers.

Read the order carefully

Identify the type — contact report, compliance order, or stop-work — the specific section of legislation cited, and exactly what the officer is asking for.

Identify the deadline

The response timeframe is stated on the order. Mark it clearly. Also note any required posting (some orders have to be physically posted on site).

Address the immediate hazard

Don't wait for the response deadline to fix the underlying issue. The fix matters more than the paperwork — the paperwork has to reflect the fix.

Document everything

Photos, dates, who did what, what was changed, who was retrained, what records were updated. The officer will compare what you said you did to what you can show.

Draft the written response

Match each item in the order. State what was done, when, by whom, and how it will stay fixed. Reference the documentation you've gathered.

Get the response reviewed

A second set of eyes — internal or external — catches gaps before the officer does. This is the highest-leverage step in the whole process.

Submit and follow up

Submit by the deadline through the channel the order specifies. Be prepared for a follow-up visit, and keep the documentation accessible — not buried in an email thread.