Workplace Safety in Alberta
Reviewed by the Commoner Law Editorial Team. Sourced from Canadian federal statutes and official sources. Provincial information reflects each province's own legislation and court rulings. Written in plain language for general understanding — this is educational content, not legal advice. Our editorial standards
What is this right?
Canadian workers have three fundamental safety rights:
- The right to know about workplace hazards.
- The right to participate in health and safety decisions.
- The right to refuse dangerous work (section 128) if you have reasonable cause to believe the work is a danger to you or another worker.
Employers must keep the workplace safe. Workplaces with 20 or more employees are required to have a joint health and safety committee. Your employer cannot punish you for exercising any of your safety rights.
When does it apply?
- All federally regulated workplaces.
- Exception: The right to refuse dangerous work does not apply if the danger is a normal condition of your job (for example, a firefighter facing fire).
What to Do If Your Canadian Workplace Is Unsafe
- Report the danger to your supervisor right away.
- If it's not fixed, escalate to the joint health and safety committee.
- Call the Labour Program at 1-800-641-4049 to report unsafe conditions.
- If you're punished for raising a safety concern, file a reprisal complaint within 90 days under section 147.
What should you NOT do?
- Don't walk off the job without reporting the hazard first — follow the proper refusal process.
- Don't assume someone else will report it. If you see a danger, speak up.
- Don't sign safety waivers — you cannot waive your legal right to a safe workplace.
How Alberta differs from federal law
Workplace health and safety in Alberta is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHS Act), SA 2017, c. O-2.1, enforced by Alberta Occupational Health and Safety (part of the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade).
- Every Alberta worker has three fundamental rights: the right to know about workplace hazards, the right to participate in health and safety, and the right to refuse dangerous work (section 31, OHS Act).
- Workplaces with 20 or more workers must have a Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). Workplaces with 5 to 19 workers must have a health and safety representative.
- Employers must report serious injuries or incidents to Alberta OHS within 2 days, and fatalities or serious incidents immediately by phone.
- The Workers' Compensation Board – Alberta (WCB-Alberta) provides no-fault workplace injury insurance. Injured workers receive compensation regardless of who was at fault. Most Alberta employers must have WCB coverage.
- If you are hurt at work, you must report the injury to your employer as soon as possible, and your employer must file a WCB report within 72 hours of learning about the injury.
Additional Steps in Alberta
To report unsafe work conditions, call the Alberta OHS Contact Centre at 1-866-415-8690. You can also file a complaint online at alberta.ca/ohs-complaints. If you are injured, report to your employer immediately and contact WCB-Alberta at 1-866-922-9221 to file a claim. You can refuse dangerous work under section 31 of the OHS Act — your employer cannot discipline or fire you for exercising this right (section 36).
Relevant Law: Occupational Health and Safety Act, SA 2017, c. O-2.1, ss. 31, 36; Workers' Compensation Act, RSA 2000, c. W-15
Common Questions
When does workplace safety apply?
All federally regulated workplaces.Exception: The right to refuse dangerous work does not apply if the danger is a normal condition of your job (for example, a firefighter facing fire).
What should I do if my workplace in Canada is dangerous or unsafe?
Report the danger to your supervisor right away.If it's not fixed, escalate to the joint health and safety committee.Call the Labour Program at 1-800-641-4049 to report unsafe conditions.If you're punished for raising a safety concern, file a reprisal complaint within 90 days under section 147.
What mistakes should I avoid with workplace safety?
Don't walk off the job without reporting the hazard first — follow the proper refusal process.Don't assume someone else will report it. If you see a danger, speak up.Don't sign safety waivers — you cannot waive your legal right to a safe workplace.
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