Resources / Onboarding Seasonal Workers

Onboarding At-Risk Seasonal Workers

START SAFE. STAY SAFE. 

Each year, municipalities rely on seasonal workers to keep parks, public works, recreation, and maintenance running smoothly.

The Government of Alberta (GoA) OHS Prevention Initiative, and WCB-Alberta injury/illness data show that many seasonal worker demographics support their classification as “at-risk workers” (due to age, newness to the job, immigrant status, lone working, exposure to hazards, or other personal circumstances) are more vulnerable to workplace injuries, illnesses, or other forms of harm. Employers have a responsibility to identify and support at-risk workers, ensuring their safety and well-being.

As a tragic testament to the increased risk of workplace injury/illness that at-risk workers face, AMHSA has been the recipient of numerous Creative Sentencing awards resulting from the disabling injury or fatality of municipal seasonal workers. Under Section 49 of the Alberta OHS Act, Creative Sentences (or alternative sentences) provide additional powers of the Court to make directions. This type of sentencing diverts funds that would otherwise be paid as fines to third party recipients that promote occupational health and safety, such as training or educational programs and any other purpose the Court considers appropriate to achieve healthy and safe work sites.

This awareness campaign aims to support municipal employers and workers with tools and resources to identify and support at-risk workers and prevent workplace illness/injury.

Together, let’s change the statistics of seasonal worker incidents and injuries and ensure that, at the end of the day, every worker goes home safe and healthy.

For your reference, resources have been divided into the following areas:

  1. General Training and Resources
  2. Construction
  3. Line of Fire
  4. Lawn Maintenance
  5. Aquatic Safety

your guide for seasonal onboarding and training

Creating a safe work environment starts before the job begins. Having a comprehensive onboarding program with the right resources will help you Start Safe and Stay Safe. From orientation to their last day, these guides and resources are your roadmap to managing safe work sites. 

Start with our pre-planning checklist

Not sure where to start? This comprehensive checklist ensures that:

  1. Role-specific and worksite-specific potential hazards are identified.
  2. A detailed training plan is developed and assigned.
  3. All necessary safety gear is available and properly maintained.
  4. Emergency Response procedures are in place.
  5. Workers are informed about the HSE Committee or HSR Rep for reporting hazards and suggesting improvements.
  6. Workers are provided with role-specific injury/illness prevention resources.

Download The Template

training and resources

We provide a range of resources designed to help you onboard seasonal workers safely and confidently. Whether you need toolkits, training programs, or guidance, these offerings are designed to support your seasonal and vulnerable workers with identifying and mitigating certain hazards.

courses

For Workers

  1. Fall Protection
  2. Flag Person - General
  3. WHMIS 2015
  4. Workplace Harassment and Violence Prevention - Introduction
  5. Workplace Harassment and Violence Awareness
  6. Workplace Harassment Awareness and Violence Prevention
  7. Heat Illness and Injury Prevention

For People Leaders 

  1. Orientation - Train the Trainer
  2. Contractor Health and Safety Management
  3. Hazard Identification, Assessment, and Control
  4. Supervisor’s Role
  5. Leadership for Safety Excellence
  6. Tailgate Meeting Essentials
  7. WHMIS 2015 - Train the Trainer

construction

Courses

  1. Flag Person - General
  2. Flag Person - Train the Trainer
  3. Chainsaw Safety - Training
  4. Slips and Trips for Construction
  5. Slips, Trips, and Falls in Construction Environments

Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) Prevention – Line of Fire Prevention Campaign

Line of Fire is a class of incidents that occurs when a source of hazardous energy (without adequate hazard controls) is released and contacts a worker causing harm/injury. This campaign aims to draw awareness to sources of high-energy (STKY hazards) and operational conditions that, if present without adequate controls, can lead to Serious Injury and Fatality (SIF) incidents and provides the best practices, tools, and resources available to support their prevention.

Resources

  1. Best Practices for Managing the LOF Campaign
  2. Line of Fire Safety Campaign Roll-Out Presentation
  3. Appendix A – Leadership Alignment & Execution Plan
  4. Appendix B – Campaign Supporting Visuals
  5. Appendix C – Work Safe Alberta – Hazard Assessment and Control Handbook

Toolkit Talks

  1. Crushing Hazard – Vehicle Movement
  2. Stored Energy – Pressure
  3. Line of Fire – Fit for Duty
  4. Line of Fire – Future Me
  5. Line of Fire – Hazard Assessments

lawn maintenance

Ideal for front-line workers and supervisors, these resources were developed as part of a Creative Sentencing award that resulted in the tragic passing of two young municipal workers.

The Lawn Maintenance Safety Awareness & Program courses are ideal for front-line workers and supervisors. Upon course completion, participants will be able to:

  1. Identify and describe common lawn maintenance hazards
  2. Participate in activities that contribute to a safe worksite
  3. Describe how to perform equipment checks and pre-trip inspections
  4. Explain the key steps in securing loads for transport
  5. Describe the steps to safely inspect and stow equipment after use
  6. Identify conditions to promote positive safety communications on the work site

This course is available in two formats:

  1. Free eLearning
  2. Paid one-day instructor-led with half-day hands-on training

Supplement your lawn maintenance safety programs with access to the free online Lawn Maintenance Safety Toolkit. It provides comprehensive hands-on resources for both front-line workers and supervisors in a documentary gallery and video library.

Get everything you need to run effective tailgate meetings, field communications procedures, hazard and competency assessments, and to enhance learnings from our Lawn Maintenance courses.

Access the Toolkit

aquatic safety

Prevent slips, trips, and falls around the pool including surface to surface, elevated surfaces, empty pool basins, diving boards, and pool slides. The Aquatic Health & Safety Awareness campaign offers printable resources, free webinars, and certification courses.

View the On-Demand Aquatic Safety Webinar Series

Resources

  1. Aquatic Diagram – Fall Arrest System
  2. Aquatic Diagram – Travel Restraint System
  3. Aquatic Poster (8.5 x 11 in) – Fall Hazard Empty Indoor Pool No Guardrail
  4. Aquatic Poster (8.5 x 11 in) – Fall Hazard Empty Pool
  5. Aquatic Poster (8.5 x 11 in) – Fall Hazard Empty Outdoor Pool No Guardrail
  6. Aquatic Poster (8.5 x 11 in) – Trip Hazard Pool Drain
  7. Aquatic Poster (8.5 x 11 in) – Fall Hazard Pool Ladder
  8. Guardrail Diagram (17 x 11 in) Guardrails
  9. Diagram (17 x 11 in) Toe Board
  10. Aquatic Talks – Diving Boards
  11. Aquatic Talks – Fall Protection
  12. Aquatic Talks – Empty Pool Basin
  13. Aquatic Talks – Pool Slides
  14. Aquatic Talks – Slips trips falls surface to surface
  15. Aquatic Talks – Slips trips falls elevated surface

Supplement your training with AMHSA’s Pool Safety course, focusing specifically on equipping young workers with the knowledge and skills they need to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards in swimming pool settings, keeping themselves and others safe.

Learn More

Enhance your Skills and Advance Your Career as a Safety Operator

Gain the knowledge you need to keep your facility and workers safe. 

In partnership with the Alberta Association of Recreation Facility Personnel (AARFP), we are offering four educational certification courses. Participants will acquire the technical skills to operate recreational facilities to a high degree of safety. This program also establishes an educational standard for use in hiring recreational facility staff.

The four certification programs are:

  1. Arena Safety Operator
  2. Aquatics Safety Operator
  3. Building Maintenance Safety Operator
  4. Parks and Sport Fields Safety Operator

Take the next step in your career as a safety operator.

Download the Brochure

be the difference in seasonal worker safety

Together, we can change the statistics. By adopting improved onboarding and training practices, you can help ensure that seasonal workers start safe and stay safe throughout their employment.

Is there a resource you need that isn’t listed here? Contact us - we’re happy to help.