What a safety manual needs in Alberta
In Alberta, health and safety is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, the OHS Regulation and the OHS Code. An employer that regularly employs 20 or more workers must establish and implement a health and safety program and a joint health and safety committee; with 5 to 19 workers you need a health and safety representative. Every employer, whatever its size, must assess hazards in writing and control them. Our Alberta manuals cite the Act and Code by part and section, cost $499 CAD and download instantly.
Updated
When Alberta requires a program, committee or representative
The size of your workforce decides what the OHS Act requires. These are the thresholds as written in the Act and Code.
- Joint Health and Safety Committee
- An employer must establish a joint health and safety committee if it regularly employs 20 or more workers. Where 2 or more employers together have 20 or more regularly employed workers at a work site with no prime contractor, they must co-ordinate one committee for the site.
- Health and Safety Representative
- An employer must designate a health and safety representative, who is a worker not associated with management, if it regularly employs 5 to 19 workers. An employer may choose to establish a committee instead.
- Fewer than 5 workers
- No committee or representative is required unless a Director designates the work site; the employer involves workers directly in hazard assessment and safety matters.
- Health and safety program
- An employer that regularly employs 20 or more workers must establish and implement a health and safety program (section 16).
(Sections 13, 14 and 16 of the OHS Act and Part 13 of the OHS Code set out these requirements.)
An OHS Director can require a committee or a representative at any work site.
The legislation an Alberta manual has to cover
A manual written for Alberta points each part of your program to the section of the Act or Code it satisfies. These are the parts our Alberta manuals cite.
- General ObligationsAB OHS Act Part 1: Sec 3-12
- Joint Health and Safety Committees, Representatives and ProgramsAB OHS Act Part 2: Sec 13-16; AB OHS Code Part 13: Sec 196-201
- Right to Refuse Dangerous Work and Disciplinary ActionAB OHS Act Part 3: Sec 17-19
- Reporting Serious Injuries, Illnesses and IncidentsAB OHS Act Sec 33
- Hazard Assessment, Elimination and ControlAB OHS Code Part 2: Sec 7-10
- Chemical Hazards, Biological Hazards and Harmful SubstancesAB OHS Code Part 4: Sec 16-43.1
- Confined SpacesAB OHS Code Part 5: Sec 44-58
- Cranes, Hoists and Lifting DevicesAB OHS Code Part 6: Sec 59-114
- Emergency Preparedness and ResponseAB OHS Code Part 7: Sec 115-118
- Entrances, Walkways, Stairways and LaddersAB OHS Code Part 8: Sec 119-137
- Fall ProtectionAB OHS Code Part 9: Sec 138-161
- Fire and Explosion HazardsAB OHS Code Part 10: Sec 161.1-174
- First AidAB OHS Code Part 11: Sec 177-184 and Schedule 2
- General Safety PrecautionsAB OHS Code Part 12: Sec 185-195
- Lifting and Handling LoadsAB OHS Code Part 14: Sec 208-211.1
- Managing the Control of Hazardous EnergyAB OHS Code Part 15: Sec 212-215.6
- NoiseAB OHS Code Part 16: Sec 216-224
- Overhead Power LinesAB OHS Code Part 17: Sec 225-227 and Schedule 4
- Personal Protective EquipmentAB OHS Code Part 18: Sec 228-255
- Powered Mobile EquipmentAB OHS Code Part 19: Sec 256-290.2
- Radiation ExposureAB OHS Code Part 20: Sec 291-291.7
- RiggingAB OHS Code Part 21: Sec 292-309
- SafeguardsAB OHS Code Part 22: Sec 310-322
- Scaffolds and Temporary Work PlatformsAB OHS Code Part 23: Sec 323-353
- Toilets and Washing FacilitiesAB OHS Code Part 24: Sec 354-361
- Tools, Equipment and MachineryAB OHS Code Part 25: Sec 362-385
- Ventilation SystemsAB OHS Code Part 26: Sec 386-388
- Violence and HarassmentAB OHS Code Part 27: Sec 390-392.6
- Working AloneAB OHS Code Part 28: Sec 393-394
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)AB OHS Code Part 29: Sec 394.1-414
- DemolitionAB OHS Code Part 30: Sec 415-422
- Excavating and TunnellingAB OHS Code Part 32: Sec 441-464
- ExplosivesAB OHS Code Part 33
- ForestryAB OHS Code Part 34: Sec 518-525
- Health Care and Industries with Biological HazardsAB OHS Code Part 35: Sec 525.1-530
- MiningAB OHS Code Part 36
- Oil, Gas and Geothermal EnergyAB OHS Code Part 37: Sec 750-784
- Tree Care OperationsAB OHS Code Part 39: Sec 792-796
- Utility Workers - ElectricalAB OHS Code Part 40: Sec 797-804
- Work Requiring Rope AccessAB OHS Code Part 41: Sec 805-849
- Workers' CompensationWorkers' Compensation Act, RSA 2000, c W-15
Read the legislation
- Occupational Health and Safety Act, SA 2020, c O-2.2 (current as of June 11, 2025)
- Occupational Health and Safety Code, Alta Reg 191/2021 (consolidated to AR 210/2024, current as of March 31, 2025)
- Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, Alta Reg 184/2021
- Workers' Compensation Act, RSA 2000, c W-15 (current as of December 18, 2025)
Hazard assessment comes first
Part 2 of the OHS Code requires every employer to assess the work site for existing and potential hazards before work begins, write the assessment down, involve workers, and eliminate or control the hazards found. It applies to a one-person crew as much as to a large employer.
A complete manual gives you the hazard assessment procedure, the forms to record it, and the safe work practices that put the controls into practice.
Alberta manuals by trade
Every trade we sell in Alberta, each built on the Alberta Act and Code. The Alberta Construction manual runs 294 pages with 39 safe work practices and 35 forms; Alberta Oil and Gas runs 344 pages with 40 safe work practices.
Alberta Collision and Repair Safety Manual
Alberta Construction Safety Manual
Alberta Electrical Safety Manual
Alberta and British Columbia Forestry Supervision Safety Manual
Alberta General Industry Safety Manual
Alberta Glass and Window Safety Manual
Alberta Golf Course Safety Manual
Alberta Health and Medical Safety Manual
Alberta HVAC Safety Manual
Alberta Manufacturing Safety Manual
Alberta Office Safety Manual
Alberta Oil and Gas Safety Manual
Alberta Plumbing and Heating Safety Manual
Alberta Retail Safety Manual
Alberta and Saskatchewan Road Construction and Maintenance Safety Manual
Alberta Snow Removal and Landscaping Safety Manual
Alberta Spray Foam Safety Manual
Alberta Warehouse Safety Manual
Alberta Waste Management Safety Manual
Working on ISNetworld sites in Alberta
If a client asks you to register on ISNetworld, you will also need written programs that match their review. The Alberta RAVS library holds every Alberta program we sell for $299, and the Alberta Complete Program bundles it with the manual for your trade for $699.
Questions
Do I need a written safety program with fewer than 20 workers in Alberta?
The OHS Act requires a health and safety program once you regularly employ 20 or more workers. Smaller employers still have to assess hazards in writing, control them, train workers and keep records, and most clients and prime contractors ask for a written program before you get on site.
Does an Alberta manual cite the OHS Code?
Yes. Our Alberta editions cite the OHS Act and OHS Code by part and section, so each part of your program shows the law it meets.
I work in Alberta and another province. What should I buy?
Buy the manual for the province where most of your work happens, then add the same trade for a second province at checkout for $199.
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