What Fatality means to Occupational Health and Safety in Alberta ?

Health & Safety Program is a criterion for 1,50,000 employers of Alberta. Either they do it themselves or hire a safety services company for the purpose. The law demands each company (irrespective of size) to have an independent occupational health and safety program. The procedure allows employers to put occupational fatality information on the bench of Workers Compensation-Alberta (WCB) after the in-depth investigation by OHS workplace police. Under the umbrella of Alberta Worker’s Compensation Act, WCB renders calculated compensation to the victim or victim’s family. But compensation finds its way with the green signal of the WCB committee as it abides by the specific definition of occupational health and safety fatality. Let’s see their outlook:

• Death of a worker caused from a workplace related accident constitutes the fatality definition of WHS.
• Occupational Health and Safety fatalities are categorized into three classes:
  • Workplace Accident- In case a person dies while working on heavy equipment, machinery or otherwise, the person is entitled to compensation by WCB.
  • Occupational Disease- In case a person dies of a disease caused from the work environment (like bronchitis, silicosis, etc), the person is entitled to compensation by WCB.
  • Occupational Motor Vehicle Fatality- In case a person dies while driving or travelling on employer’s vehicle, the person is entitled to compensation by WCB.

The above entitlement is enforced if the employer’s health and safety program complies with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, not otherwise. Documentation and dually filled safety manuals must support each fatality.
As Canadian government is all set to introduce mental health stands for workplace, I’m eagerly waiting to know the newer definitions of fatality in this category. If you have any clues, do share with me.