Alberta’s minister of employment and immigration says he’s “days” away from announcing changes to the way workplace safety is enforced.
Thomas Lukaszuk told the Advocate on Wednesday that he wants to establish clearer rules for employers and tougher consequences for those who fail to maintain safe job sites.
“We definitely will be strengthening the role of the occupational health and safety department among Alberta places of employment.”
In April, Alberta auditor general Merwan Saher issued a report that identified “serious weaknesses” in the way the province’s occupational health and safety system deals with employers that persistently fail to comply with enforcement orders. It also noted that many hold certificates of recognition for workplace safety that entitle them to financial rebates and give them an advantage when bidding on some contracts.
Saher also noted reporting deficiencies.
“It was a critical report, but it was a good report,” said Lukaszuk,
He said the changes he plans to make will “go far beyond” Saher’s recommendations. He confirmed that they will include releasing the safety records of non-complying employers.
“So it will be proactive to prevent, but also reactive dealing with those who have accidents.”
There were 166 job-related deaths in Alberta in 2008, up from 154 in 2007. Last year, the figure dropped to 110 with the decline in economic activity.
While Alberta’s lost-time claim rate in 2007 was below the national average, its fatality rate was much higher. Lukaszuk said this could reflect such factors as the high level of heavy industry in this province, inexperienced workers coming here from other parts of Canada or from countries where workplace safety is not a priority, mixed languages on job sites, and cold or dark working conditions.
But, he stressed, any number of injuries or deaths are too many, regardless of their cause.
“I’m a strong believer of the fact that a vast majority of accidents are preventable — they’re not accidents, they’re incidents that could have been prevented.”
Lukaszuk said he’s also focusing on ways to blunt the impact of an anticipated labour shortage in Alberta.
“For every person who retires, there’s not one person entering the labour force.
“That will have a very significant impact on our economy.”
His department is working to better utilize unemployed and underemployed Albertans — including First Nations people and individuals with disabilities — but is also reviewing the role of foreign workers, said Lukaszuk.
He’s ordered a review of the federal temporary foreign worker program, which helped temper Alberta’s labour shortage a few years ago but may not be the best option going forward.
“There are probably better ways of addressing chronic or ongoing shortages of workers. That is what we’ll be reviewing.”
Lukaszuk said the review will seek feedback from employers, workers, communities with foreign workers and Albertans generally.
“It’ll be a multi-faceted review, but it won’t be a lengthy review, because I need answers quickly because the economy is recovering.”
Ultimately, he plans to make recommendations to the federal government about how the program can be changed to help Alberta.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com