Resources / Newsletters / September 2024

September 2024

In this edition of AMHSA’s Monthly OHS News:

AMHSA Updates
Program News
Upcoming Training
GoA and Strategic Partner Updates
Upcoming Events (*Free Webinars)

AMHSA Updates

AMHSA becomes an IACET Accredited Provider

Following an extensive 3-year process, AMHSA was awarded International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) Accredited Provider status on August 1, 2024. IACET is recognized as the continuing education and training ‘gold standard’ in North America.

Achieving IACET accreditation marks a significant milestone for AMHSA, becoming the only IACET accredited health and safety association in Canada. This firmly establishes our organization as a leader in municipal health and safety excellence and furthers our mandate to provide meaningful and cost-effective health, safety and environmental training and education programs to our members.

Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks!

FREE WEBINAR

Worker Well-Being in Health and Safety: Influence of Financial Literacy

Thursday, September 26, 2024 at 01:00 PM EDT

Alberta’s government continues to review and update the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code to ensure workplace health and safety rules keep pace with new best practices, standards and technology. The OHS Code is a regulation of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and contains the detailed technical requirements for controlling health and safety hazards at workplaces. The review process includes public engagement and surveys.

Access a summary report of feedback received during public engagement.

AMHSA is pleased to announce the winner of the prize draw of the $250 AMAZON Gift Card for the early bird draw deadline for survey feedback!

Congratulations to Teresa Gratrix, Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Camrose County!

There’s still time to submit your feedback and receive your responses.

A quick reminder, the survey (5-7 mins) closes Sept 7th.

Auditor Certification

Effective January 1, 2025, AMHSA Auditors who let their auditor certification expire will be required to successfully complete AMHSA’s Health and Safety Auditing Course as well as a qualification audit to recertify as an AMHSA Auditor. Auditors certified with another Alberta Certifying Partner who wish to become an AMHSA certified auditor will be expected to meet the same requirements.

Questions about equivalency? Contact [email protected].

2025 Announcements

Training Changes:

We are developing psychological health and safety supplementary training for both the Health and Safety Management Systems (HSMS) and Health and Safety Auditing courses. The Auditing course will be extended to three days (including the PHS training and expanded/new exercises), while the HSMS course will become 2.5 days.

Upcoming AMHSA Conference

Save the date! AMHSA will be hosting a conference in Edmonton.

The event will be held at the NAIT PIC CENTRE on Nov. 28-29, 2024.

If you are interested in being an exhibitor or sponsor, please contact us at [email protected].

Program News

Psychological Health and Safety eLearning Certificate

All 5 Modules of AMHSA’s Psychological Health & Safety e-Learning Certificate Program for People Leaders are now available for purchase! This modular e-Learning program was developed in strategic partnership with Dr. Joti Samra and her team from MyWorkplaceHealth.

Earn digital credentials from AMHSA and CPHR-Alberta Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.

Learn More

Upcoming Training

AUDIT REFRESHER

Auditors are certified through AMHSA to conduct health and safety management system audits within the municipal sector. In order to maintain the high standard of auditing that AMHSA expects, auditors must perform the required number of audits within the three year certification period, and they must meet a minimum audit quality standards on all audits. In addition, auditors are required to attend this half-day refresher course every three years.

Learn More

ISO 45001:2018 Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems Training

Learn new approaches for managing your health and safety program and/or enhance your skills in safety auditing by attending the ISO 45001:2018 suite of courses. The ISO 45001:2018 has been developed as a single standard to promote better occupational health and safety (OH&S) management. ISO 45001 certified employers may be eligible for COR equivalency.

Each Year AMHSA makes available the ISO 45001: 2018 suite of courses. The course are:

ISO 45001: 2018 Requirements for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001:2018 Internal Auditor for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems
ISO 45001:2018 Lead Auditor for Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems

Click here for an overview of the 3 course offerings, course outline and prerequisites.

Why should you attend?

Learn risk-based approaches to OHSMS
Understand the requirements of ISO 45001:2018
Evaluate organizational readiness for ISO certification
ISO 45001:2018 certified employers are eligible for COR equivalency
Maintain professional competencies as an auditor
Training participants earn professional development maintenance points (if eligible)

Have questions or would you like to join the course offering list?

Contact Juliet Goodwin (587) 952-2268 Ext 324 or [email protected].

Upcoming Training

View our course calendar for upcoming open courses or visit our eLearning store for self-paced training. View our course list to see training options and contact us to schedule learning events, or to be placed on a waitlist for upcoming open training opportunities.

Health and Safety Auditing – sessions are full, email us to be placed on the waiting list.

Email [email protected] for eligibility information or to register.

Health & Safety Management Systems, Sept. 4-5, Oct. 1-2, Feb. 4-5, 2025, Mar. 4-5, 2025

Contractor Health & Safety Management, Sept. 12, Oct. 4

Leadership for Safety Excellence, Sept. 12-13

Occupational Health & Safety Act, Regulation, and Code Overview, Sept. 20

Audit Refresher, Sep. 26, 2024, Oct. 10, 2024, Feb. 27, 2025, Mar. 27, 2025

Health & Safety Committee and Health & Safety Representative (HSC/HSR) ½ day course, Sept 27 and Oct 22

Leadership for Safety Excellence Managers, Oct 28 & 29

Health and Safety Auditing, Feb. 18-19, 2025, Mar. 18-19, 2025

Partner News

Government of Alberta OHS News

A new and updated OHS Resource Portal for bulletins, infographics, eLearning resources and recorded webinars supporting workplace health and safety in Alberta is available.

New or updated resources are also available, such as:

Learn More

Introduction to Disability Management and Occupational Health & Safety

A free webinar from WCB and OHS on effective disability management practices, offering free information on OHS resources and OHS management system. The team will highlight resources available from the OHS Resource Portal.

Date: Tuesday September 24, 2024
Time: 9:00am to 10:30am
To register click Here

Learn More

Jasper wildfire recovery – OHS resource

In the aftermath of the devastating wildfires in Jasper, a large-scale cleanup effort will be needed to remove debris and safely demolish burned structures.

Key issues include the legal status of volunteers as workers and secondary hazards that may arise during the cleanup process. For comprehensive guidelines and resources, the OHS Resource Portal offers valuable information for ensuring safety and compliance throughout this critical phase of recovery.

Occupational Injury Services (OIS)

The Occupational Injury Service (OIS) provides injured employees with prompt access to specialized assessments and treatments, facilitating a swift and safe return to the workplace.

OIS physicians, specializing in work-related injuries, usually evaluate injured workers within 30 minutes of their arrival at an OIS facility.

In 2024 (January 1 - June 30),

97% of workers were assessed within 30 minutes of arrival to the clinic.
95% of workers were fit-for-work following the initial OIS visit.
However, only 67% of OIS initial visits had employer contact prior to the worker arriving at the clinic. As a reminder, please contact the OIS clinic to let them know that a worker is coming so the clinic can perform a triage assessment. This also ensures that every effort is made to assess the worker within 30 minutes of arrival.

Learn More

Industry Task Force (ITF) Association

The newest edition of the Industry Task Force (ITF) Association newsletter is now available.

AUDITOR UPDATES

Watch your email inboxes for a new Auditor Update early in September!

It will include the official 2023 PIR rebate announcement, important 2024 deadline reminders, information on 2025 changes to our consultant auditor certification process and auditor training, CBSA working group update, and more.

Subscribe Here