Legislation
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Breaking Strength
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Breaking Strength
292(1) An employer must ensure that rigging is not subjected to a load of more than
- (a) 10 percent of the breaking strength of the weakest part of the rigging, if a worker is being raised or lowered,
- (b) subject to section 292.1, 20 percent of the ultimate breaking strength of the weakest part of the rigging in all other situations unless the manufacturer has fatigue rated the rigging in accordance with CEN Standard EN 1677-1:2000, Components for slings – Part 1: Forged steel components grade 8, and
- (c) subject to section 292.1, if the rigging is fatigue rated in accordance with CEN Standard EN 1677-1:2000, and a worker is not being raised or lowered, the maximum load must not exceed 25 percent of the ultimate breaking strength.
292(2) Despite subsection (1), an employer may use a dedicated rigging assembly designed and certified for a particular lift or project by a professional engineer, but the dedicated rigging assembly must be re-rated to comply with subsection (1) before it is used for another lift or project.
Damaged Hooks
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Damaged Hooks
309 An employer must ensure that a worn, damaged or deformed hook is permanently removed from service if the wear or damage exceeds the specifications allowed by the manufacturer.
Electric Arc Damage
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Electric Arc Damage
308 An employer must ensure that a component of rigging that has been contacted by an electric arc is removed from service unless a professional engineer certifies that it is safe to use.
Hazard Assessments
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Hazard assessment
7(1) An employer must assess a work site and identify existing and potential hazards before work begins at the work site or prior to the construction of a new work site.
7(2) An employer must prepare a report of the results of a hazard assessment and the methods used to control or eliminate the hazards identified.
7(3) An employer must ensure that the date on which the hazard assessment is prepared or revised is recorded on it.
7(4) An employer must ensure that the hazard assessment is repeated
- (a) at reasonably practicable intervals to prevent the development of unsafe and unhealthy working conditions,
- (b) when a new work process is introduced,
- (c) when a work process or operation changes, or
- (d) before the construction of significant additions or alterations to a work site.
Inspection
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Inspection
294 An employer must ensure that rigging to be used during a work shift is inspected thoroughly prior to each period of continuous use during the shift to ensure that the rigging is functional and safe.
Loads Over Work Areas
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Loads Over Work Areas
69(1) An employer must ensure that work is arranged, if it is reasonably practicable, so that a load does not pass over workers.
69(2) An operator of a lifting device must not pass the load on the device over workers unless
- (a) no other practical alternative exists in the circumstances, and
- (b) the workers are effectively warned of the danger.
69(3) A worker must not stand or pass under a suspended load unless the the worker has been effectively warned of the danger and the operator of the lifting device knows the worker is under the suspended load.
69(4) The operator of a lifting device that is travelling with a load must ensure that the load is positioned as close to the ground or grade as possible.
Load Rating
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Load Ratings
293(1) An employer must ensure that the maximum load rating of the rigging, as determined by the rigging manufacturer or a professional engineer, is legibly and conspicuously marked on the rigging.
293(2) Despite subsection (1), if it is not practicable to mark the rigging, the employer must ensure the maximum load rating of the rigging is available to the worker at the work site.
Makeshift Rigging
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Makeshift Rigging and Welding
304 An employer must ensure that rigging does not have
- (a) makeshift fittings or attachments, including those constructed from reinforcing steel rod, that are load bearing components,
- (b) rigging and fittings that are repaired by welding unless they are certified safe for use by a professional engineer after the repair is completed, or
- (c) alloy steel chain that is welded or annealed.
Rejection Criteria
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Rejection Criteria
Synthetic fibre slings
305(1) An employer must ensure that a synthetic fibre web sling is permanently removed from service if it is damaged or worn as follows:
- (a) the length of the edge cut exceeds the web thickness;
- (b) the depth of an abrasion is more than 15 percent of the webbing thickness, taken as a proportion of all plies;
- (c) the total depth of the abrasion on both sides of the webbing is more than 15 percent of the webbing thickness, taken as a proportion of all plies;
- (d) the depth of the warp thread damage is up to 50 percent of the webbing thickness and the damage
- (i) is within 25 percent of the sling width of the edge, or
- (ii) covers 25 percent of the sling width;
- (e) the warp thread damage is as deep as the sling is thick
- (i) in an area that is within 25 percent of the sling width of the edge, or
- (ii) over an area that is more than 12.5 percent of the width of the sling;
- (f) weft thread damage allows warp threads to separate over an area that is wider than 25 percent of the sling width and longer than twice the sling width.
305(2) An employer must ensure that a synthetic fibre web sling is permanently removed from service if
- (a) part of the sling is melted, charred or damaged by chemicals,
- (b) stitches in load bearing splices are broken or worn, or
- (c) end fittings are excessively pitted or corroded, cracked, distorted or broken.
305(3) An employer must ensure that a synthetic fibre web sling is permanently removed from service if it is damaged in such a way that the total effect of the damage on the sling is approximately the same as the effect of any one of the types of damage referred to in subsection (1) or (2).
305(4) An employer must ensure that a synthetic fibre web sling that is permanently removed from service under this section is physically altered to prevent its further use as a sling.
306(1) An employer must ensure that wire rope is permanently removed from service if
- (a) wear or corrosion affects individual wires over more than 1/3 of the original diameter of the rope,
- (b) there is evidence that the rope structure is distorted because of bulging, kinking, bird-caging or any other form of damage,
- (c) there is evidence of heat or arc damage, or
- (d) the normal rope diameter is reduced, from any cause, by more than
- (i) 0.4 millimetres if the normal rope diameter is 8 millimetres or less,
- (ii) 1 millimetre if the normal rope diameter is more than 8 millimetres and less than 20
millimetres, - (iii) 2 millimetres if the normal rope diameter is 20 millimetres or more and less than 30
millimetres, and - (iv) 3 millimetres if the normal rope diameter is 30 millimetres or more.
306(2) An employer must ensure that a running wire rope is permanently removed from service
- (a) if 6 or more randomly distributed wires are broken in one rope lay, or
- (b) if 3 or more wires are broken in one strand in one rope lay.
306(3) An employer must ensure that a stationary wire rope such as a guy line is permanently removed from service
- (a) if 3 or more wires are broken in one rope lay in sections between end connections, or
- (b) if more than one wire is broken within one rope lay of an end connection.
306(4) An employer must ensure that wire rope that does not rotate because of its construction is permanently removed from service
- (a) if there is evidence of the damage referred to in subsection (1),
- (b) if 2 randomly distributed wires are broken in 6 rope diameters, or
- (c) if 4 randomly distributed wires are broken in 30 rope diameters.
Responsibilities
Alberta OH&S ACT 2025
1(d) “competent” in relation to a person, means adequately qualified, suitable trained and with sufficient experience to safely perform work without supervision or with only a minimal degree of supervision
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Definitions
(1 ) In this code, “direct supervision” means that a competent worker
- (a) is personally and visually supervising the worker who is not competent, and
- (b) is able to communicate readily and clearly with the worker who is not competent;
Alberta OH&S ACT 2025
Obligations of employers
(2) Every employer shall ensure that workers engaged in the work of that employer are adequately trained in all matters necessary to perform their work in a healthy and safe manner.
(3) If work is to be done that may endanger a worker, the employer shall ensure that the work is done
- (a) by a worker who is competent to do the work, or
- (b) by a worker who is working under the direct supervision of a worker who is competent to do the work.
3(1) Every employer shall ensure, as far as it is reasonably practical for the employer to do so
- (a) the health and safety of
- (i) workers engaged in the work of that employer, and
- (ii) those workers not engaged in the work of that employer but present at the work site at which that work is being carried out, and
- (iii) other persons at or in the vicinity of the work site whose health and safety may be materially affected by identifiable and controllable hazards originating from the work site,
- (b) that the workers engaged in the work of that employer are aware of their rights and duties under this Act, the regulations and the OHS code.
(4) Every supervisor shall
- (a) as far as it is reasonably practicable for the supervisor to do so,
- (i) take all precautions necessary to protect the health and safety of every worker under the supervisor’s supervision,
- (ii) ensure that a worker under the supervisor’s supervision works in the manner and in accordance with the requirements of this Act, the regulations and the OHS Code, and
- (iii) ensure that none of the workers under the supervisor’s supervision are subjected to or participate in harassment or violence at the work site,
- (b) advise every worker under the supervisor’s supervision of all known or reasonably foreseeable hazards to health and safety in the area where the worker is performing work,
- (c) report to the employer a concern about an unsafe or harmful work site act that occurs or has occurred or an unsafe or harmful work site condition that exists or has existed, and
- (d) cooperate with any person exercising a duty imposed by this Act, the regulations and the OHS Code.
5(1) Every worker shall, while engaged in an occupation,
- (a) take reasonable care to protect the health and safety of the worker and of other persons at or in the vicinity of the work site while the worker is working,
- (b) cooperate with the worker’s supervisor or employer or any other person for the purposes of protecting the health and safety of
- (i) the worker
- (ii) other workers engaged in the work of that employer, and
- (iii) other workers not engaged in the work of that employer but present at the work site at which that work is being carried out.
- (c) report to the employer or supervisor a concern about an unsafe or harmful work site act that occurs or has occurred or an unsafe or harmful work site condition that exists or has existed,
5(2) A worker who is not competent to perform work that may endanger the worker or others shall not perform the work except under the direct supervision of a worker who is competent to perform the work.
6(3) Every supplier shall, as far as it is reasonably practicable for the supplier to do so,
- (a) ensure that any personal protective equipment or equipment is supplied with a written copy of the manufacturer’s specifications and any other instructions for safe use, as applicable, if such specifications and instructions exist,
Rigging Protection
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Rigging Protection
296 An employer must ensure that sharp edges on loads to be hoisted are guarded to prevent damage to the slings or straps of the rigging.
Right to Refuse
Alberta OH&S ACT 2025
Dangerous Work and Disciplinary Action
Right to refuse dangerous work
17(1) In this section, “undue hazard” in relation to any occupation includes a hazard that poses a serious and immediate threat to the health and safety of a person.
(2) Subject to this section and section 5, a worker may refuse to work or to do particular work at a work site if the worker believes on reasonable grounds that there is an undue hazard at the work site or that the work constitutes an undue hazard to the worker’s health and safety or to the health and safety of another worker or another person.
(3) When exercising a right to refuse to work or to do particular work under subsection (2), a worker shall ensure, as far as it is reasonable to do so, that the refusal does not endanger the health and safety of any other person.
(4) A worker who refuses to work or to do particular work under subsection (2) shall promptly report the refusal and the reasons for it to the worker’s employer or supervisor or to another person designated by the employer or supervisor.
(5) An employer who receives a report under subsection (4) shall, as soon as possible, inform the joint health and safety committee, if there is one, or the health and safety representative, if there is one, of the report.
(6) The employer may require a worker who has made a report under subsection (4) to remain at the work site and may assign the worker temporarily to other work assignments that the worker is reasonably capable of performing.
(7) A temporary assignment under subsection (6), if there is no loss in pay, is not disciplinary action for the purposes of section 18.
(8) If the employer does not remedy the alleged undue hazardimmediately, the employer shall, after discussing the matter with the worker who refuses to work or do particular work undersubsection (2), immediately inspect the alleged undue hazard.
(9) The employer required to inspect under subsection (8) shall take any action necessary to remedy any undue hazard, or ensure that such action is taken.
(10) When a worker has refused to work or to do particular work under subsection (2), the employer shall not request or assign another worker to do the work until the employer has determined that the work does not constitute an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person or that an undue hazard does not exist.
(11) On completing an inspection under subsection (8), the employer shall prepare a written report of the refusal to work, the inspection and the action taken, if any, under subsection (9).
(12) The employer shall give a copy of the report completed under subsection (11) to the worker who refused work under subsection (2), the joint health and safety committee if there is one and the health and safety representative if there is one.
(13) If a worker who receives a report under subsection (12) is of the opinion that an undue hazard still exists, the worker may notify an officer.
(14) Where the employer becomes aware that a notification to an officer was made under subsection (13), the employer shall advise any other worker that the employer assigns to do the work, in writing, of
- (a) the first worker’s refusal,
- (b) the reasons for the refusal, and
- (c) the reason why, in the opinion of the employer, the work does not constitute an undue hazard to the health and safety of any person or that an undue hazard is not present.
(15) An officer who receives a notification under subsection (13) shall investigate the matter and prepare a written record of the investigation and the officer’s findings, and shall give the joint health and safety committee if there is one, the health and safety representative if there is one, the worker and the employer a copy of the record.
Safety Latches
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Safety Latches
303(1) An employer must ensure that a hook has a safety latch, mousing or shackle if the hook could cause injury if it is dislodged while in use.
303(2) Despite subsection
- (1), if a competent worker disconnecting the hook would be in danger if the hook has a safety latch, mousing or shackle, the employer may use another type of hook.
303(3) Despite subsection
- (1), an employer may use a sorting hook for hoisting a skeleton steel structure or for performing similar operations if a sorting hook is safer to use than a hook with a safety latch, mousing or shackle.
Specifications
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Manufacturer’s and professional engineer’s specifications
13(1) If this Code requires anything to be done in accordance with a manufacturer’s specifications, an employer may, instead of complying strictly with the manufacturer’s specifications, comply with modified specifications certified by a professional engineer.
13(2) If this Code requires anything to be done in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications and they are not available or do not exist, an employer must
- (a) develop and comply with procedures that are certified by a professional engineer as designed to ensure the thing is done in a safe manner, or
- (b) have the equipment certified as safe to operate by a professional engineer at least every 12 calendar months.
Standards
Alberta OH&S CODE 2025
Standards
297(1) An employer must ensure that wire rope, alloy steel chain, synthetic fibre rope, metal mesh slings, and synthetic fibre slings manufactured on or after July 1st 2009 meet the requirements of ASME Standard B30.9-2006, Safety Standard for Cableways, Cranes, Derricks, Hoists, Hooks, Jacks, and Slings.