Health & Safety - Official Website of Smoky Lake County, AB

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Our Commitment

Smoky Lake County is dedicated to a strong Health and Safety Program, including the physical and psychological health, safety, and well-being of all employees, contractors, and visitors. Our Health & Safety Department ensures compliance with the Occupational Health & Safety Act, Regulation & Code and promotes a proactive safety culture through hazard assessments, training, and continuous improvement.

What We Do

Hazard Assessments to ensure all hazards associated with a job or task are identified and have effective controls in place.
Incident Reporting & Investigation by ensuring timely documentation and implementation of corrective actions.
Coordinating Training Programs to keep staff informed, competent, and compliant.
Policy Development in accordance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation & Code.
Provide Guidance to the Health and Safety Committee.

Annual Safety Meeting

As part of our workplace Health and Safety commitment, Smoky Lake County hosts an annual safety meeting (typically in April or May) where all staff are required to attend.
During this meeting, we:

Review key safety topics.
Review incident statistics from the past 12 months.
Reinforce our shared responsibility for workplace safety.
Invite guest speakers to provide workshops or seminars on relevant safety topics.

Certificate of Recognition (COR)

We are proud to maintain an active COR Certification, which is a provincial standard that demonstrates our commitment to workplace safety. Smoky Lake County has participated in the COR program since 1994.

What is COR?

The Certificate of Recognition (COR) is an Alberta-wide occupational health and safety accreditation that verifies an employer’s Health and Safety Management System meets provincial standards under the Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR) program.

The COR Audit program involves:

Documentation Review from the past 12 months.
Interviews with workers, supervisors, managers, and senior management.
Observations to confirm implementation of safety practices.

COR works on a 3-year cycle:

Year 1: External audit by an AMHSA-certified auditor.
Years 2 & 3: Internal audits by an AMHSA-certified auditor.
All audits must pass AMHSA’s Quality Assurance review before certification is issued.

Who Oversees COR?

Partnerships in Injury Reduction (PIR): A joint initiative between Alberta Jobs, Economy and Trade, WCB, and industry.
Certifying Partner: Smoky Lake County uses the Alberta Municipal Health and Safety Association (AMHSA), which provides auditor training, audit tools, quality assurance, and safety resources for municipalities.

Benefits of COR

Financial Incentives: WCB premium refunds for implementing effective safety systems.
Safety Culture: Demonstrates commitment to reducing injuries and continuous improvement.
Industry Recognition: COR is often required for municipal and government contracts.

Health & Safety Committee

Our Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) plays a vital role in maintaining a safe workplace.

What the Committee Does:

Reviews and provides input on new or updated Safe Work Practices (SWPs).
Assists in hazard identification and control measures.
Reviews formal inspections of buildings, worksites, and fleet.
Reviews incidents, near misses, occupational illness, and work refusal investigation reports and provides input on corrective actions.
Provides a forum for employees to raise safety concerns.
Supports compliance with OH&S legislation and COR standards.
Meets regularly to ensure safety remains a top priority across all departments.