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RE: PPE in Alberta. Taking emotion out of it for the moment, let's consider the legislative requirements to have and supply this PPE. Your answers are found in Section 228(1) of the Alberta OHS Code and Sections 244 & 245 of the Alberta OHS Code (Respiratory Protective Eqpt)
COVID-19 is a health hazard. It should have been identified on either a formal hazard assessment or a field level hazard assessment (OHS Code Part 2: Hazard Assessments). It should be risked ranked and controls put in place. PPE is a hazard control.
There are THREE types of hazard controls:
1) Engineered / Substitution
2) Administrative
3) PPE
PPE is the LAST line of defense if Engineered or Admin Controls can't apply. Please note that elimination of a hazard is preferred, but if you can't eliminate, you must control.
1) Engineered / Substitution
2) Administrative
3) PPE
PPE is the LAST line of defense if Engineered or Admin Controls can't apply. Please note that elimination of a hazard is preferred, but if you can't eliminate, you must control.
The humanitarian part of me commends the province for wanting to share what we have. The pragmatist in me thinks Kenney's intentions in doing it are garbage. The policy/procedure guy in me says we can't do it unless we've done our due diligence to protect our workers FIRST.
So yesterday when Dr. Hinshaw answered that the questions about PPE procurement need to go to the Minister's office, she was not wrong. In their capacity as the "Employer", it is the responsibility of the Government of Alberta to ensure workers are protected at all times.
This is the same government that started taking apart workplace OHS standards in their "Farm Freedom Act" and are mulling re-opening Bill 30 to further reduce 'Red Tape'. If I were an OHS Officer, I'd be watching this carefully and if I were a front-line worker, I'd make notes.
Bill 30 ensured workers had three rights:
1) Right to know about hazards and how to control them
2) Right to participate in the Health & Safety Process
3) Right (Note: NOT Responsibility) to refuse unsafe work.
This is still on paper and this is your ammo. Your safety MATTERS.
1) Right to know about hazards and how to control them
2) Right to participate in the Health & Safety Process
3) Right (Note: NOT Responsibility) to refuse unsafe work.
This is still on paper and this is your ammo. Your safety MATTERS.
The PDF to the Alberta OHS code is here: http://www.qp.alberta.ca/documents/OHS/OHSCode.pdf
The Occupational Health & Safety Act is here:
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=O02P1.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779800865&display=html
The Occupational Health & Safety Regulations are here:
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=2003_062.cfm&leg_type=Regs&isbncln=9780779776221&display=html
It's sad we have to deal with this AND a pandemic but we must.
The Occupational Health & Safety Act is here:
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=O02P1.cfm&leg_type=Acts&isbncln=9780779800865&display=html
The Occupational Health & Safety Regulations are here:
http://www.qp.alberta.ca/1266.cfm?page=2003_062.cfm&leg_type=Regs&isbncln=9780779776221&display=html
It's sad we have to deal with this AND a pandemic but we must.
We can't go save lives if our own life is at risk. The arrogant Quid Pro Quo demonstrated by Premier Kenney & his government can't be allowed to stand & once again, they've demonstrated how Alberta workers mean little but will sell you platitudes so they can get your money.
I know people think that workplace safety can be tedious, but right now, it's essential. And to be clear, I have no problem sharing what we have with others who are in worse shape than we are. But we MUST protect our people first and then we can go protect others.
