Occupational Health + Safety
Occupational Health + Safety
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Experience
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Field Law’s approach to workplace safety is clear. While we are familiar with the "due diligence defence" to allegations of safety offenses, we believe that a prophylactic approach is necessary. Due diligence must be kept top of mind when designing a safety program. In addition, it must always be remembered that documentation and training materials mean nothing if their core message and elements are not successfully transmitted to, and understood by, those who need it most, the workers and supervisors on the ground. 

We advise clients concerning Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) compliance, represent clients during workplace health and safety investigations and defend clients in the event of prosecution.

In addition to their already arduous obligations regarding workplace health and safety, employers must now add the unchartered hazards of cannabis in the workplace. Canada’s changing cannabis laws, along with existing legislation for medical use, make for a complicated legal landscape in the employment context. How is an employer to fulfill human rights obligations while still adhering to strenuous and costly OHS obligations when the list of permitted impairing substances is increasing? Field lawyers are available to help you understand these legal changes and provide cost-effective, real life and useful policies and procedures to meet the changing demands on employers under the new OHS legislative regime and cannabis laws.

Our Occupational Health and Safety team also offers the following comprehensive services:

24-hour Emergency Response Service: The most critical time for a company suffering a serious workplace accident is the first few hours immediately after the accident. The consequences to the reputation of the company or individuals can be serious and long lasting. Our toll-free 24-hour Emergency Response Number (1-866-WORK-911) ensures you real assistance to deal with the maze of real issues that arise after a serious workplace accident.

Defence Service: Our OHS Group provides defence services to clients charged with regulatory and criminal offences following a workplace accident or near miss.

Due Diligence Program: Our Due Diligence Program is designed to prevent accidents and protect against prosecution. We work together with our clients, safety specialists and consultants to develop a custom designed safety program for our clients.

OHS Compliance Service: Our OHS Group also provides assistance to clients experiencing difficulty with compliance issues under OHS legislation. We can assist when OHS officials have given directions or order, appeals and exemption and in cases of work refusal due to dangerous work. We advise clients concerning OHS compliance. represent clients during workplace health and safety investigations and defend clients in the event of prosecution.

Stay up-to-date with Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) with our Labour + Employment publications, seminars and events. Click here to sign up to receive these online publications and invitations.  

February 2024
2023 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Seminars + Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series covered Labour and Occupational Health + Safety. To view Part 2, which c...
November 2023 - 12 min read
Navigating OHS Compliance Post-Sudbury
Workwise Newsletter
After a wait of about a year, Canada’s highest court has finally issued its ruling in a case that had OHS afficionados—and what reader of Field Law’s OHS communiques is not?— on the edge of their seats.  In what promised to...
March 2023
Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code come into effect March 31, 2023
Law Camera Action: Field Law Talks Law
What changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code should you be aware of?Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code come into effect March 31, 2023. Employers need to be mindful of how these changes affect their or...
March 2023 - 4 min read
Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code
Workwise Newsletter
Changes to Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Code come into effect March 31, 2023. Employers need to be mindful of how these changes affect their organization and assess whether practices need to be changed or implemented ...
January + February 2023
2022 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Seminar + Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series will cover Labour, Occupational Health + Safety and Immigration. To view the ...
July 2022
Canadian Occupational Safety
Named 2022 5-Star Safety Lawyer
April 7, 2022
Coffee + Counsel: Employer Considerations for the Removal of Vaccination Policies
Q+A Session
Join us for another edition of Coffee + Counsel, a complimentary series that brings you together with a few of our lawyers for an unscripted chat about legal issues pertinent to organizations in Alberta. Your questions guide the discussion, and we prov...
January 25, 2022
2021 - A Year in Review: Labour + Employment (Part 1)
Webinar
Join members of our Labour + Employment Group for our annual Year in Review, which focuses on legal updates for management and employee groups.Part 1 of this series covered Labour and Occupational Health + Safety. To view the recording for Part 2,...
November 10, 2021
4 Key Questions About New OHS Rules in Alberta
Canadian HR Reporter
For employers operating in Alberta, Dec. 1 will bring a brand new occupational health and safety regime, as the province enforces its new OHS act.Canadian HR Reporter recently spoke with Steve Eichler, partner at Field Law in Calgary, about w...
October 2021 - 4 min read
Just in Time for the Holidays! The New and Improved OHS Act Takes Effect on December 1, 2021
Avid Field e-blast readers will recall our reporting that on December 9, 2020, the Government of Alberta passed Bill 47, the Ensuring Safety and Cutting Red Tape Act, 2020, which amended various work-related statutes, including Alberta’s&nbs...
June 2021 - 2 min read
New COVID Legislations. New Protections.
What is Bill 70? Multiple provinces across Canada have implemented legislation to create liability protection against COVID-19 for employers and their workers in health sectors. As of June 17, 2021, Alberta joins these provinces with Bill 70, more comm...
May 19, 2021
Coffee + Counsel: Employers, Are You Ready for the COVID-19 Vaccine?
Q+A Session
Join us for another edition of Coffee + Counsel, a complimentary series that brings you together with a few of our lawyers for an unscripted chat about legal issues pertinent to organizations in Alberta. Your questions guide the discussion, and we prov...
February 24 + March 10
2020 - A Year in Review Webinar Series
Did you miss the Field Law Labour + Employment Group's annual Year in Review? The recordings are now available! Is employer-friendly OHS legislation coming to a worksite near you? What are the impacts of COVID-19 on employment legislation a...
June 2020
Return to Play – Legal Considerations
As we begin to find a new normal and economies undergo the re-opening process, the return of amateur sports is now emerging on the horizon.  This is a happy development that will have a profound positive impact on the physical and mental health of...
May 2020 - 2 min read
Employees are Afraid to Return to Work. Now What?
On May 13, 2020 we hosted a webinar about pandemic-related work refusals as Alberta and other governments enable businesses and other organizations to reopen and call employees back to work. The most frequently asked question was: What do I do with an ...
May 13, 2020
We said “Back to work!” They said “We refuse!” Now what?
Webinar
The Alberta government announced its "safely staged COVID-19 relaunch" and you’re thinking it’s time to call your laid-off or working-from-home crews back to work. Or you’re carrying on providing essential services and the &...
Winter 2020
2019 - A Year in Review Seminar Series
Seminars
Join the Field Law Labour + Employment Group for our annual seminars featuring legal updates and practical challenges for management and employee groups.Part 1 has been approved for 1.75 CPD hours and Part 2 has been approved for 2.25 CPD hou...
November 20, 2019
Edible Cannabis in the Workplace
Seminars
It has been over a year since Canada legalized cannabis.  Although individuals could make cannabis food and drink for personal use under the legislation, such products were initially not able to be produced or sold commercially.  As of Octobe...
September 26, 2019
Must Have Policies for Employers: Why, What + How
Seminars
Join Field Law in Edmonton and Calgary and learn tips and tricks to assist with the implementation and enforcement of three workplace policies Employers should have in place in today’s market.We will explore how changes in legislation and culture...
February 6, 2019
2018 Year in Review for Northern Employers
Seminars
Join Field Law for a review of the most important legal cases from 2018. Topics covered will include: Labour Employment Human Rights Occupational Health + Safety Privacy Immigration Cannabis This seminar will be broadcast live via ...
Winter 2019
2018 A Year in Review Seminar Series
Seminars
The Field Law Labour and Employment Group presents the annual Year in Review seminars in Calgary and Edmonton. Join us for legal updates and practical challenges for management and employee groups in the areas of:  Part 1: Human Rights ...

"Snap-on Tools of Canada Ltd. has had a long term relationship with Field Law. We have and continue to appreciate their legal advice and representation. We have used Field Law to provide expert legal and management advice in a wide range of matters dealing with Industrial Relations, unionization drives, employment, Health and Safety, and Harassment Investigations. In all cases, Field Law provided excellent legal and in many cases very practical implementations. Snap-on Tools of Canada Ltd. values our long term relationship and the quality of the services provided."

Cal Balcom
Director, Human Resources
Snap-on Tools of Canada Ltd.

"When it comes to OHS legal matters, Steve Eichler is my number one contact! I can count on him to provide accurate interpretations, realistic assessments and practical approaches to OHS legal compliance. Steve is also entertaining and enlightening speaker on OHS legal issues."

Gene Marie Shematek MSc(A), CIH, ROH
President
GMS & Associates, Ltd.

"Carma Developers LP safety department has had a long term relationship with Field Law. We have and continue to appreciate their legal advice. We have used Field Law to provide expert legal advice relating to Alberta OHS legal issues and concerns, and to provide a comprehensive review of our safety manual. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Field as our "go to guy" when we have legal questions or concerns."

John Tucker CRSP, CHSEP, NCSO
Safety Manager
Carma Developers LP