The Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) is increasing its annual transfer of funds to the Alberta government by $3.3 million to $9.6 million.
The funds will be used to support the Workplace Safety 2.0 initiative to reduce injuries and fatalities on Alberta worksites 40 per cent by 2004, said Human Resources and Employment Minister Clint Dunford.
The initiative will be implemented through a series of enhanced enforcement, education and awareness activities.
Since 1976, the employer-funded WCB has transferred money to the provincial government to help cover the costs associated with administering the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
“Achieving a lost-time claims rate of 2.0 by 2004 will mean 15,000 fewer injured workers each year. This will result in a savings of around $200 million in WCB claim costs and lower WCB premiums for Alberta employers,” said Dunford.
Meanwhile, legislation to help make Alberta workplaces safer has been introduced in the Alberta Legislature.
“These amendments strengthen the government’s regulatory and enforcement efforts and set the stage for implementation of the Workplace Safety 2.0 strategy,” said Dunford.
Bill 37 proposes five major amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act:
* Increasing the maximum fine for an OHS offence from $150,000 to $500,000.
* Introducing penalties other than fines or incarceration for OHS offences, such as providing safety programs or education programs.
* Streamlining the process for updating OHS rules by allowing the creation of an Occupational Health and Safety Code to govern the codes of practice for worksite safety.
* Allowing the use of administrative fines similar to those used for traffic violations. The introduction of these fines will depend on a review of the fines in other jurisdictions to determine their effectiveness.
* Publishing the names of employers with the best and worst safety performance in the province.
Web watch:
www.assembly.ab.ca
www.whs.gov.ab.ca
