Alberta Workplace Safety & OHS Requirements: What Employers Need to Know in 2026

As of March 31, 2025 , Alberta employers are required to maintain a single, combined prevention plan addressing both workplace harassment and workplace violence. Previously, employers were expected to develop separate plans for each issue. The consolidated approach streamlines compliance and ensures a more cohesive framework for protecting workers. Every employer in Alberta — regardless of size or industry — must have a combined prevention plan that includes the following components: Risk assessment: A systematic evaluation of workplace factors that may contribute to harassment or violence. Reporting procedures: Clear, accessible processes for workers to report incidents or concerns. Investigation processes: Fair and timely procedures for investigating complaints, including defined roles and responsibilities. Privacy protections: Safeguards to protect the confidentiality of all parties involved in a report or investigation. Employers should review and update their existing policies to ensure they meet the requirements of the combined plan. Training all workers and supervisors on the new unified framework is essential for compliance. Alberta's occupational health and safety legislation places a duty on employers to take every reasonable precaution to protect workers, and maintaining a current prevention plan is a core part of that obligation. For full details on these requirements, employers should consult the official guidance published on the Alberta government's OHS website. Alberta's employment standards legislation extended the maximum duration of unpaid, job-protected illness and injury leave to 27 weeks in a 52-week period. This significant expansion aligns Alberta's leave provisions with the federal Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefit duration, ensuring that workers who qualify for EI sickness benefits can maintain job protection for the full period they may receive federal support. Key details of the extended leave include: Eligibility: Employees must have completed at least 90 days of continuous employment with their employer to qualify. Medical certificate: Employers may require a medical certificate supporting the need for leave. Job protection: Employees on illness and injury leave are entitled to be reinstated to the same or a comparable position upon their return. This change is particularly important for workers managing serious or chronic health conditions, recovery from surgery, or extended treatment plans. Employers should update their internal leave policies and ensure that HR teams and managers understand the new 27-week maximum. Payroll and benefits administration processes may also need adjustment to reflect the longer protected period. Official details on illness and injury leave entitlements are available on the Alberta government's employment standards page. Beyond the 2025–2026 legislative changes, Alberta employers must continue to meet several foundational occupational health and safety and employment standards requirements. Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSCs): Any worksite with 20 or more employees is required to establish a joint health and safety committee. These committees play a vital role in identifying hazards, recommending corrective actions, and fostering a culture of safety. Details are available on the relevant government website. WHMIS Compliance: Full compliance with the amended Hazardous Products Regulations has been mandatory since December 14, 2025 . Employers must ensure that all safety data sheets, labels, and worker training reflect the current WHMIS requirements. Guidance is available on the Alberta government's employment standards page. Minimum Wage: Alberta's general minimum wage remains at $15.00 per hour , unchanged since October 1, 2018 — currently the lowest general minimum wage in Canada. The student wage rate for employees under 18 years of age is $13.00 per hour . Current rates are published on the relevant government website. Statutory Holidays: Alberta recognizes 9 statutory holidays . Notably, Boxing Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are not included among Alberta's statutory holidays. The full list is available on the relevant government website. Looking for workplace health and safety training? Our sister platform, TrainGuard Academy , offers online training courses designed for Canadian workplaces — including Alberta OHS compliance training, WHMIS 2015, violence and harassment prevention, and workplace hazard assessment. Courses are designed to meet Alberta OHS Act and OHS Code requirements.