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Publisher’s Note
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY THREE KINGS! As we are now in 2019, new year, new beginnings, new challenges and new opportunities. Everyone is entitled to make their new year’s resolution for as long as they keep it in mind and make sure that they do it to the best of their ability. When I was young [...]
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Minister’s Ethnic Column- May 2011

NAOSH Week

As the Minister of Employment & Immigration, your health and safety at work is one of my responsibilities. One of my goals is to ensure that every Albertan, regardless of age, gender or ethnicity, returns home to their loved ones at the end of the work day.

We just celebrated North American Occupational Safety and Health (NAOSH) week in May. The week is dedicated to giving employers and workers information needed to understand how to keep the workplace safe. It is a North American-wide effort, with many events held right here in Alberta.

During NAOSH celebrations this year, employers and workers across Canada and North America were encouraged to ask themselves the question – What’s your plan? Employers and workers were urged to think about the tasks they perform and how they can make them safer. When businesses and organizations plan ahead, accidents can be prevented.

It’s also important that government has a plan. Last summer, I released a 10-point plan for occupational health and safety. It included implementing a stronger compliance system, posting online the safety records of employers and hiring additional Occupational Health and Safety Officers. Since that time, several items on my list have been crossed off, and several more have been added. I will continue adding to that plan until I’m satisfied we are doing all we can to improve workplace safety.

In addition, my ministry has updated our Safe & Fair Workplaces web page, at www.employment.alberta.ca/safeandfair. Here, you can easily find health and safety information for employers, workers and temporary foreign workers. Workplace safety laws change from country to country – even province to province – so it is important to know your rights and responsibilities in Alberta. These laws apply to most people working in Alberta, whether you were born here and have been working for decades or have just recently come to Alberta and start your job today.

Together, we can promote a culture of workplace health and safety. Your safety on
he job begins and ends with you, regardless of whether you are the boss or the worker.
I urge you to know your rights and responsibilities in the workplace. If you have any questions or concerns about safety, do not hesitate to call our toll free Occupational Health and Safety Contact Centre at 1-866-415-8690.

Your comments or concerns related to this article, or any future article, are always welcome. You can contact me by calling 780-415-4800 in Edmonton and area or
310-0000 and then 780-415-4800 for elsewhere in Alberta, or through email at [email protected].