LAWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Workers’ Compensation

Jun 1: The Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) distributed roughly $106.5 million in rebates to more than 10,000 Certificate of Recognition (COR) employers under the Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program last month. COR status is awarded to employers whose OHS management programs meet provincial standards as determined by a certified auditor.

Action Point: In addition to earning workers’ compensation rebates, studies show that companies with COR or similar recognition have lower injury rates.

OHS Enforcement

Jun 1: Now is the time to speak up about how you feel about the province’s OHS regulations. Alberta kicked off its legislatively required regular three-year review of the OHS Code. The deadline to comment is July 8.

First Aid

Jun 30: Alberta published its revised list of officially approved first aid training agencies and courses for purposes of complying with OHS first aid requirements for the three-month period from July 1 to September 30, 2026.

Action Point: Find out how to implement an effective First Aid Compliance Game Plan at your workplace.

Airborne Contaminants

Jun 15: Alberta OHS published revised guidelines to help employers protect workers against hazardous exposure to silica. Common sources of silica in the workplace include molds for metal casting, refractory brick in kilns, foundries, power, and cement plants, filter media in water filtration systems, sandblasting abrasives, glass, fibreglass, ceramics, paints, plastics, and components for electronics, fibre-optics, laser, and time-keeping devices.

Action Point: Find out how to implement a legally sound Airborne Contaminant Exposure Control Plan at your workplace.

Training

Jun 3: Alberta launched a $4 million, two-year pilot program to support skilled trades workers preparing for certification and Red Seal exams through an advanced learning platform that personalizes training as you go. The platform, which will be provided to at least 200 workers in high-demand trades, checks what learners already know and adjusts their learning path so they can learn what they still need to know as fast as possible.

Industry Challenges

Jun 29: Alberta is investing more than $7 million to expand and modernize hands-on agricultural training at Lakeland College. The money will fund upgrades and expansion of the beef yard, along with the relocation of horse pen facilities at the Vermilion campus.

New Laws

Jul 1: From now through September 30, residents can apply for the one-time $100 Alberta Energy Rebate providing relief on the cost of fuel, groceries, utilities, and other household needs. To be eligible, applicants must: be 18 or older, be an Alberta resident with a verified alberta.ca account, have filed a 2025 tax return, and have a household income of $225,000 or less.

New Laws

Jun 10: Building materials company CGC Inc. opened a new wallboard manufacturing plant in Wheatland County that’s expected to create nearly 100 full-time jobs in the region. First announced in 2022, the $210 million project received $3.7 million through Alberta’s Investment and Growth Fund.

New Laws

Jun 25: The federal Green Industrial Facilities and Manufacturing Program (GIFMP) and Energy Innovation Program (EIP) announced over $19.4 million in funding for 13 projects in Alberta designed to advance clean energy innovation and strengthen electrical grid reliability.

New Laws

Jun 30: Alberta is gathering public feedback on its Agri-Processing Investment Tax Credit program, which provides a 12% non-refundable tax credit for corporations and registered partnerships that invest $10 million or more in new or expanded processing facilities. The government is reaching out to key stakeholders about their experience with the tax credit, including what is and isn’t working.

CASES

Powered Mobile Equipment: Warehouse Fined $350,000 for Forklift Operator’s Death

Marble slabs being moved by a forklift unexpectedly dislodged and fatally crushed the worker operating the machine. The victim’s employer was fined $350,000 after pleading guilty to failing to prevent the unsafe movement of a forklift load, including via requiring or enforcing safe procedures for moving a load. That’s the second highest OHS fine reported in Alberta in 2026. The money will go to the Manufacturer’s Health & Safety Association (MHSA) to deploy portable virtual reality forklift simulators for operator safety training [LX Hausys Canada Inc., Govt. Press Release, June 2, 2026].

Action Point: Don’t let something like this happen on your watch! Find out how to implement a Powered Mobile Equipment Compliance Game Plan to prevent forklift incidents and injuries at your workplace.

Material Handling: Construction Panel Installation Mishap Leads to $250,000 in Fines

A work crew was installing forms for a foundation at a new residential development when a cage holding panels fell, striking and pinning one of the workers resulting in serious injuries. The constructor and victim’s employer were each fined $125,000 for an OHS violation in connection with the incident, the former for failing to ensure that workers were adequately trained to perform the work safely and the latter for failure to ensure that racks used to store materials or equipment were placed on firm foundations that could support the load [Excel G.P Ltd., and Benchmark Cribbing, Inc., Govt. Press Release, June 8, 2026].

Action Point: Find out how to implement a legally sound and effective Material Stacking Safety & Compliance Game Plan at your workplace.

OHS Enforcement: “Imminent Danger” Not Required to Issue Stop-Work Order

After an assessment concluded that a consulting firm wasn’t qualified to conduct indoor hygiene testing, OHS officials issued an Order requiring it to stop performing airborne concentration measurements of harmful substances and hazardous materials inventory assessments in Alberta unless and until the Order was lifted. The firm appealed contending, among other things, that the government had no authority to issue the Order because there was no proof of “imminent danger.” The Labour Relations Board upheld the Order finding that nothing in the OHS Act expressly limits the discretion of inspectors to issue stop-work orders only to situations involving imminent danger [11184903 Canada Corp. operating as Pure Air Solutions Services Ltd. v Occupational Health and Safety, 2026 ABOHSAB 9, June 24, 2026].

Action Point: This is an important case because it interprets the statutory authority of Alberta OHS inspectors to issue stop work orders broadly including situations where there’s no imminent danger. Find out about the factors you should consider in deciding whether to appeal an OHS order.