Municipal Safety News
Fall 2019
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AMHSA Webinar Series Kick-Off!
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The time is now for integrated worker health.
Changes to the
Alberta Occupational Health
and Safety Act
and
Alberta Worker's Compensation Act
have raised the bar for all employers to protect, promote, and maintain the highest degree of physical, psychological, and social well-being of workers and others who are affected by its activities.
To drive this regulatory refresh forward, it makes sense for human resources (HR) and occupational health and safety (OHS) leaders to come together to build an effective employee experience strategy where health, safety, and productivity are an intentional part of the everyday culture that results in employees coming together to work with purpose - empowered, energized, safe, and confident to handle whatever comes their way.
AMHSA and the City of Lethbridge invite you to participate in our complimentary
4-part webinar series for HR and OHS leaders
to explore a framework that anchors health as key organizational priority, integrates HR and OHS functions, and promotes a two-way accountability system between employer and employees.
This webinar series will cover key components for your organization to consider when developing its strategy.
For more information and to register for one or all of the webinars, please visit our website:
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Our auditing webinar series are fast approaching! Just a reminder that if you are interested in signing up for either or both, please do so ASAP!
Please visit this link to get more information and to register:
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Ammonia and Other Toxic Gases
In Arenas - UPDATE!
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In the spring of 2018, AMHSA liaised with a consultant to review potential toxic chemical releases in municipal arenas throughout Alberta. This was done with fantastic cooperation from many resources within municipalities across Alberta who have a direct connection to arena operations by being owners or operators of these facilities. AMHSA produced a number of documents, based on the feedback and the research of our external consultant and posted them on our website in July 2018.
Since then, there has been a number of reports with recommendations that have been released. We have taken the opportunity to tap into previous resources to assist with updating our guidelines and are pleased to announce that they are now posted on our website. With the busy season for arena operations rapidly approaching, now is the time to take a look at your guidelines to be sure they are up to date.
We trust that the information we have provided will assist in ensuring you have a safe operation for your staff and those using your facilities. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!
Impairment in the Workplace Workshops
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AMHSA's Impairment in the Workplace workshops are right around the corner!
Don't miss out on the opportunity to sign up for one of these free sessions.
September 18 - Leduc Civic Centre -
12 seats left!
(
day
before
the Sept 19 NASC meeting in the Town of Edson
)
September 25 - Genesis Airdrie -
20+ seats still available!
(
day
after
the Sept 24 SASC meeting in the Town of Sylvan Lake
)
NEW!
October 23 - City of Lethbridge -
10 seats left!
Each session will run from 10 am - 3 pm. Capacity for each of these sessions is set at 50 participants. Lunch is included.
Please use
password AMHSA
to register (same password for all events).
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AMHSA is pleased to announce a help link on our website that floats in the lower right-hand corner.
Feel free to send us a message, and it will instantly link you to one of our live representatives. If no one is live at the moment, you can send us a message and a representative will get back to you.
You can also update your contact information by providing your name and email address in the event no one is available to chat live with you.
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AMHSA's Annual Training Awards
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Each year, AMHSA recognizes municipalities in Alberta for their commitment to health and safety training in the workplace.
In 2018, we based the awards on total trainings as a percentage of population, with one award for each of our industries.
Congratulations to:
- City of Leduc
- Flagstaff County
- MD of Lesser Slave River
- Special Areas Board
- Town of Calmar
- Village of Rockyford
- Improvement District No 9 (Banff)
In addition, the Town of Vegreville was recognized for its commitment to its health and safety training portal and creating a matrix and forms which were utilized by several other municipalities (see photo above with AMHSA's Scott Lyall congratulating Phil Rowe.
The Town of Westlock was also recognized for its commitment in the early adoption of the new health and safety training requirements by the 2018 Legislation.
Photo: In order from left to right starting with back row: Councillor David Berry; Councillor Ann Waters; Councillor Marielle Brodziak; Councillor Tina Warawa; Councillor Taneen Rudyk; Dale Lefebvre, Infrastructure, Planning & Development Director; and Paul Suiter, Community Services Director
Front row: Mayor Tim MacPhee; Fire Chief / Health & Safety Manager Phil Rowe; Scott Lyall; Cliff Craig, Town Manager.
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Meet Our Training Instructors!
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In every newsletter, we will highlight a few of our training instructors.
This month, we introduce you to
Kim Davis!
Kim has been working with AMHSA since 2015, teaching several of their courses. Prior to AMHSA she has worked in a variety of positions in many different environments across Alberta and Northern BC. She began as a Hazardous Waste Field Technician with HAZCO, identifying and transporting unknown hazardous waste to transfer stations and end disposal (and running several environmental emergency clean-ups). She has also worked as an equipment operator on several types of equipment, including the hydrovac, grader, loader, skidsteer, loader backhoe, excavator, dozer, etc., and has experience running this equipment in refineries, construction, and pipeline environments. Immediately prior to working with AMHSA, Kim taught at one of the heavy equipment colleges in Alberta where she introduced and supervised both new and experienced operators to heavy equipment.
We hope you will get a chance to meet Kim through one of her training sessions. To see which courses she teaches, please click here!
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We also want to introduce you to
Rick Lupul!
Since 1999, Rick has been a contract trainer for AMHSA, specializing in equipment operator and ATV/UTV training as well as most course offerings AMHSA provides.
Rick is a Canadian Registered Safety Professional and was the first person to achieve AMHSA's Municipal Health and Safety Advisor designation when the
program was first introduced.
In 2006, Rick completed the University of Alberta’s Safety Certificate Program, and in 2010 started working for Rocky View County. He is currently a Fire Captain at the Springbank Fire station. Prior to working for the County, Rick worked for the Town of Cochrane from 1997 to 2010 where he started in Operations as an operator and quickly worked his way into the Health and Safety Coordinators position. Rick then developed the Town’s health and safety management system. Rick also sat on the Calgary Regional Utility Damage Prevention Committee for 10 years. Prior to working for the Town, Rick worked as an equipment operator for a large landscape contractor working around buried infrastructure in the Calgary area.
Prior to moving to Calgary in 1988, Rick grew up on a small farm east of Edmonton and worked operating equipment for a gravel crushing contractor and for a large manufacturing plant in the Redwater area.
Rick brings his life’s experiences to his sessions and shares them in a unique way through his humor, stories, and what’s worked and what hasn’t in relation to health and safety in general.
In his spare time, Rick enjoys outdoor pursuits and his motorbikes. It’s not uncommon to see him show up to teach a session riding his bike!
To see which courses Rick current teaches, please click on the link below:
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All of our municipalities are encouraged to attend our safety council meetings according to the area of Alberta they represent.
These meetings are for members only.
Breakfast snacks and lunch are provided free of charge for our members.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES:
Northern Alberta Safety Council
- Date September 19, 2019
- Time: 10 am - 3 pm
- Location: Town of Edson
Southern Alberta Safety Council
- Date September 24, 2019
- Time: 10 am - 3 pm
- Location: Town of Sylvan Lake
All Cities Safety Council
- Date December 3, 2019
- Time: 10 am - 3 pm
- Location: Red Deer (Cambridge Hotel)
To learn more information about our Safety Council Meetings,
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Alberta Labour
Latest News on OHS information for workers and employers can be found here:
Read Alberta Labour's recent
August e-newsletter
with the latest OHS news and events.
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WCB-Alberta's myWCB Mobile App
for Workers
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Workers' Compensation Board - Alberta
WCB is now making it easy for workers to access claim information through their mobile devices. You can view your payment history and upcoming payments, submit receipts for expenses related to your injury, request a call back from your claim owner, and view important information as to whether your claim has been accepted or denied. For more information on how to download the app for your phone, please click on the link below:
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Upcoming Conferences & Trade Shows
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LOOK FOR AMHSA
at the following conferences and trade shows!
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Alberta Urban Municipalities Association Convention & Alberta Municipal Services Corp Trade Show
September 25-26, 2019
Edmonton Convention Centre, AB
Come see us at Booth #61
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Rural Municipalities of Alberta Fall Convention & Trade Show
November 12-15, 2019
Shaw Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB
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SAVE THE DATE!
Health, Safety & Utility Conference & Trade Show
December 2-5, 2019
Cambridge Hotel, Red Deer
(Formerly the Red Deer Sheraton)
AMHSA is a proud co-sponsor of this conference which caters to delegates who are employed by cities, municipal districts, counties, towns, and villages as well as those working with above- and below-ground utilities.
Sessions are developed for OH&S, utilities operations (water, sewer, natural gas distribution, system maintenance and operation, etc.) and industrial hygiene as well as environmental management, public works, and landfill operations.
Network with peers, meet vendors from across Canada, and connect with industry service providers. Exhibitors include government representatives, training providers, associations, and equipment sales.
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Our 2018 Annual Report is available for viewing on our website. Just click on the button below!
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AMHSA Calgary
1.800.267.9764
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AMHSA Sherwood Park
1.800.267.9764
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Your partner in OHS education
Vision: To be the recognized leader of municipal safety excellence and an innovative provider of education programs
We post updates on our courses, etc., on Facebook.
If you would like to receive updates, please "like us!"
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Disclaimer
:
Please note, that while we do invite submissions, use of sent items is at the discretion of AMHSA. We are under no obligation to review, consider, publish, develop, provide compensation, or otherwise use the submission. You also agree that your submission in no way violates any copyright, trademark, or trade name; or the rights of any third party, including individuals, and is not otherwise unlawful.
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