Alberta safety officers issue more than 200 construction site orders

Safety inspectors in Alberta have issued over 200 orders across the province in the first six weeks of the commercial construction safety blitz.

From Oct. 8 to Nov. 22, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) officers conducted 298 initial and follow-up inspections of 146 commercial construction employers across the province. A total of 214 orders, including 39 stop work orders, were issued.

“We issued stop-work orders at a quarter of the sites we visited,” said Minister of Employment and Immigration Thomas Lukaszuk. “To say I’m disappointed with these results is an understatement. I expect better of industry in Alberta, and I know industry leaders, employers and workers expect better of themselves.”

Fall hazards, including a lack of proper fall protection or fall protection plan, top the list of safety violations with 57 orders, or over one-quarter of all orders. This indicates that working at height without proper fall protection is a primary safety issue in the commercial construction sector.

Another 49 orders, or 23 per cent of all orders issued, relate to the lack of proper safeguards. This includes coverings for openings and guardrails.

“Clearly, the commercial construction sector has its work cut out,” said Lukaszuk. “The laws are in place and we will continue to ensure they’re followed.”