HealthandSafetyLaw

Module1
 Overview/KeyOutcomes
Bytheendofthismodule,youwillbeableto:
identifythevariouspiecesofOH&Slegislationandguidance
documentsandthepurposeofthelegislation
discussdifferentjurisdictionsincludingmattersfallingunder
FederalJurisdictionandProvincialJurisdictionandstructureof
governments
examinetherulesinformingtheinterpretationoflegislation

2
 OHSLegislationandGuidanceDocumentsin
Alberta

3
OHSLegislationinAlberta
1.OccupationalHealthandSafetyAct
2.OccupationalHealthandSafetyRegulation
3.OccupationalHealthandSafetyCode
4.AdoptedStandards(Section3OHSCode)
4.CriminalCode(BillC45)
 Paramountcy
Ifaconflictexistsbetweentwolegislativeprovisions,the
onefoundinthesuperiorlegislationwins.

5
OtherOHSGuidanceDocuments
OccupationalHealthandSafetyExplanationGuide
IndustryRecommendedPracticesandBestPractices
 ProvincialJurisdiction

7
Whoiscoveredundertheprovincialjurisdiction?

AllworkersengagedinoccupationsinAlberta
Except:
FederalUndertakings
FarmingandRanching
PrivateDwellings
 FederalJurisdiction

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FederalOHSLegislation
CanadaLabourCodePartII
CanadaOccupationalHealthandSafetyRegulation
Whoiscoveredunderthejurisdictionofthefederal
governmentinCanada?

FederalUndertakings:
CanadaPost
Telecommunications
InterprovincialTransportation
Banks
Anyotherindustryenumeratedunders.91oftheConstitution
Act,1867
AboriginalCommunities?
 FarmingandRanchingExemption

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Whatareconsideredfarmingandranchingoperations?

HistoricallySection1(s)oftheOHSAct
HistoricalFarmingandRanchingExemptionRegulation
Directlyorindirectlyinvolved(NorthernForageCase)
Newlegislation Bill6
Section1(s)OHSAct
(s) occupationmeanseveryoccupation,employment,
business,callingorpursuitoverwhichtheLegislature
hasjurisdiction,except
(i) (PriortoJan01,2016)farmingorranchingoperations
specifiedintheregulations,and
(ii) workin,tooraroundaprivatedwellingoranylandusedin
connectionwiththedwellingthatisperformedbyan
occupantorownerwholivesintheprivatedwellingora
householdservantoftheoccupantorowner;
ExcludedOperations
2 Thefarmingandranchingoperationsthatwereexcluded
priortoBill6weretheoperationsthatweredirectlyor
indirectlyinvolvedinthefollowing:
(a) theproductionofcrops,includingfruitsandvegetables,
throughthecultivationofland;
(b) theraisingandmaintenanceofanimalsorbirds;
(c) thekeepingofbees.

WhathaveyoureadaboutBill6inthenews?
IncludedOperations
3 Despitesection2,thefollowingoperationsareincluded
inthedefinitionofoccupationundertheAct:
(a) operationsinvolvedintheprocessingoffoodorother
productsfromtheoperationsreferredtoinsection2;
(b) theoperationofgreenhouses,mushroomfarms,nurseries,or
sodfarms;
(c) operationsinvolvedinlandscaping;
(d) operationsinvolvedintheraisingorboardingofpets.
 PrivateDwellingExemption

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Whatisconsidered
workin,tooraroundaprivatedwelling?

Residentpersonallyworkinginoraroundthehome
Householdservants
Doestheexemptionapplytotrades(eg:contractors
doingrenovations)?
ResidentstatusandPrimeContractorstatus
IstelecommutingexemptfromOHSlaw?
Section1(s)OHSAct
(ii) workin,tooraroundaprivatedwellingoranylandused
inconnectionwiththedwellingthatisperformedbyan
occupantorownerwholivesintheprivatedwellingora
householdservantoftheoccupantorowner;
 Government

20
BranchesofGovernment
1. Legislative
2. Executive
3. Judicial
CourtswithJurisdictioninAlberta
a. TrafficCourt
b. ProvincialCourt
c. CourtofQueensBench
d. CourtofAppeal
e. SupremeCourtofCanada
Whatistheroleofcourtsinoccupational
healthandsafety?

1. Regulatoryprosecutions(s.41oftheOHSAct)
2. AppealsofOHSCouncildecisions
3. Judicialreviewapplications
4. Applicationsforcomplianceorderspursuanttos.42of
theOHSAct.
 Precedent (Past Court decision being considered by Deciding Court)

Deciding Court Provincial Queens Court of Supreme

Court Bench Appeal Court of
Canada
Province Court Persuasive Bound Bound Bound
Queens Bench Persuasive Persuasive Bound Bound
Court of Appeal Persuasive Persuasive Persuasive Bound
Supreme Court of Persuasive Persuasive Persuasive Persuasive
Canada

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 InterpretingStatutes

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HowdoIproperlyinterpretastatutoryprovision?

Looktoseeiftheterminquestionisdefinedwithinthe
legislation.
Looktoseeifthecourtshaveprovidedanymeaningto
theterminquestion.
Applytherulesofstatutoryinterpretation.
Whataretherulesofstatutoryinterpretation?

thewordsofanActaretobereadintheirentirecontext
andintheirgrammaticalandordinarysense
harmoniouslywiththeschemeoftheAct,theobjectof
theAct,andtheintentionofParliament.
ATCOGas&PipelineLtd.v.Alberta (Energy&Utilities
Board),2006SCC4
Example
16(1)Anemployermustensurethataworkersexposureto
anysubstancelistedinSchedule1,Table2iskeptas
lowasreasonablyachievable.
Example
559(1)Anemployeratanundergroundcoalminemust
ensurethattherearerefugestationslocatedat
strategicplacesinthemine.
559(2)Arefugestationmust
(a)bebigenoughtoaccommodateallworkersworkinginthe
vicinityduringoneshift,
(b)havewater,airandasystemthatcommunicateseffectively
withthesurface,and
(c)beseparatedfromadjoiningworkingsbycloseable
fireproofdoorsarrangedandequippedtopreventgases
fromenteringtherefugestation.
Example
3(1) Everyworksitemusthaveaprimecontractorifthere
are2ormoreemployersinvolvedinworkatthework
siteatthesametime.
WhatisStareDecisis?
Courtsoughttostandbytheirpreviousjudgments
Thisprovidessomemeasureofcertaintyand
predictabilityinlaw.