HSE Updates Week of 12 March 2025 – RAE, OHS, MHCC, Wildfires
Greetings,
Please review the applicable HSE Updates.
- Company Safety Meeting Presentation: deadline: two weeks following the Company Safety Meeting
- It is mandatory to review the Company Safety Meeting on SiteDocs and sign-off that you have done so. If the deadline has passed – you missed it but are still expected to review and sign-off the presentation in SiteDocs.
- RAE000043-RAE Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) Manual REV 2025.1: Published to REMS/RFR, be sure to sign-off /mark as read
- 2025 HSE Manual Knowledge Check: Ensure you pass (min. 80%) the HSE Manual Knowledge check by the end of February
- H&S Bulletin: Answer due by 8am last Friday of the month
- See attached: March 2025 Health and Safety Bulletin
- Health and Safety Committee: Next Meeting: usually Thurs before last Fri of the month
- If you can’t join the HSC meetings, you can still participate by providing feedback, questions, or concerns to hsc@raeengineering.ca. Please submit feedback prior to the next meeting so it can be brought forward.
- The HSC meets the last Thursday of each month at 1pm via Teams
- Previous HSC Meeting Minutes can be found in the Teams Channel and on SiteDocs
- Safety Rewards Program: Where your commitment to RAE’s Safety Culture is rewarded!
- Submit more cards! Be specific in how your coworkers are contributing to safety! The latest PRC winners are:
- $500 Best Card Winner: Amy Langille
- $100 Safety PRC Draw: Cobus du Plessis
- If you have any questions or concerns about the Safety Rewards Program, or would like to sign-up to do a presentation, please email hsc@raeengineering.ca.
- Submit more cards! Be specific in how your coworkers are contributing to safety! The latest PRC winners are:
- Peer Recognitions: Due by Company Safety Meeting each month
OHS
- From: OHS eNews – March 2025
- OHS Resource Portal
- Transitional period for updated 2024 OHS Code ends on March 30, 2025
- To view the updated OHS Code, visit alberta.ca/occupational-health-and-safety-code.
- Violence and harassment remain work site hazards under OHS legislation
- For highlights of the changes to the workplace violence and harassment requirements, visit 2024 Change highlights: Violence and harassment – Part 27 in the OHS Code on the OHS Resource Portal
- World Teen Mental Wellness Day
- World Hearing Day
- Free webinar on health, safety and employment standards for young workers
- The webinar will take place on March 25 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. To register or get more details about the topics that will be presented, click here.
- Upcoming live webinars on employment standards. For more information, or to register for one of the sessions, visit alberta.ca/employment-standards-webinars.aspx
- Temporary Foreign Worker Advisory Office – TFW & Employer Rights and Responsibilities: March 26 at 1:30 p.m.
- Employment Standards in Alberta – Construction Overview: March 27 at 1:30 p.m.
- OHS: Beyond the numbers
- In “OHS: Beyond the numbers,” we showcase data and information to help start health and safety conversations in your workplace. This month, we’ll be looking at WCB injury claims involving frostbite.
- Alberta winters are long, harsh and unforgiving, and frostbite is a real risk for workers exposed to winter weather. Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can result in serious and sometimes permanent injuries, up to and including amputations.
- According to WCB injury claim data, an average of 72 frostbite-related claims are made each year. Around one in four frostbite-related claims are from workers 25 to 34 years old, suggesting that workers earlier in their careers are at particular risk.
- Wearing wet and poorly insulated gloves and boots (or no gloves) increases frostbite risk. This is borne out by the fact that fingers were the most affected part of the body, accounting for 37 per cent of claims, while feet were the second most affected body parts, at 27 per cent.
- Frostbite is preventable when proper cold-weather safety practices are in place. To help protect workers from frostbite, see working in extreme cold and working in winter on the OHS Resource Portal.
- From: OHS Act, Regulation and Code – December 10, 2024
- Alberta King’s Printer has published the updated OHS Code with all changes in force as of December 10, 2024. During a transitional period between December 4, 2024 and March 30, 2025, work site parties can comply with either the updated provisions or the prior provisions. Starting on March 31, 2025, work site parties will need to comply with the updated provisions.
- Key updates to the OHS Code include:
- Part 27: Violence and Harassment
- Part 33: Explosives
- Part 37: Oil and Gas Wells
- Miscellaneous editorial amendments across the OHS Code
- OHS Online Subscription
- In addition to print formats, Alberta King’s Printer provides subscription based digital access to all OHS legislation, including the OHS Code. Also included are the Alberta legislative titles that are referenced in the code (e.g. Employment Standards Code, Health Information Act, Workers’ Compensation Act, etc.) The subscription service allows users to search OHS Legislation by keyword or phrase on all internet capable devices. You can also print portions of the resources and download materials to your device for offline reference and use. This resource is great for anyone who requires advanced access to the Code and related materials, that are updated as changes occur. The first subscription licence is $49.95, with additional user subscriptions available at $15.00 each.
Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC)
- From: The Catalyst Magazine | Revue Le Vecteur
- The Therapeutic Power of Blue Space: How spending time in, on, or around water can reduce stress, encourage physical activity, and kindle social engagement.
- Care for Care Providers: The mental health of support workers should matter to everyone.
Wildfires
- A client shared a Wildfire Awareness Prevention bulletin (attached) which includes information and tips for fire prevention including:
- Fireguards
- Cleaning out hot spots and removing debris from machinery
- Carrying fire extinguishing equipment (small shovel, collapsible pail, fire extinguisher)
- Ensuring mufflers and spark arrestors are working properly
- If you see a wildfire: Alberta call 310-FIRE / BC call 1-800-663-5555 or cell*5555
- Wildfire seasonal statistics from 2024