Resources / Part 40: Utility Workers - Electrical Technical Working Group

Drive Change in Part 40 of the OHS Code

Add Your voice and improve health and safety for your municipal electrical utilities workers

Alberta Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration (JETI) is reviewing Part 40: Utility Workers - Electrical in accordance with its published 2025/26 OHS Code review schedule. This includes a Part 40: Utilities - Electrical Technical Working Group (TWG) that recommends changes to Part 40 for government consideration before the Government determines what to publicly consult on and, following public consultation, amends the OHS Code.

The scope of the review will include:

  • Health and safety requirements specific to electrical utility work.
  • Updates to technical standards to align with best practices for safety and equipment, including a review of CAN/ULC-801-14 to address industry concerns.
  • New requirements to address emerging hazards, technologies, and work processes on Alberta work sites.
  • Opportunities to replace prescriptive rules with outcome-based requirements in the OHS Code, where appropriate.
  • Opportunities to harmonize requirements with other Canadian jurisdictions.

AMHSA has been invited to participate in the review and needs your timely input to reflect your concerns and positively impact the legislation.

municipal relevance

Part 40: Utilities - Electrical of the OHS Code sets out requirements specific to electrical utility work, including power transmission, distribution, and related operations. These safety provisions have been in place since 2009.

In March 2023, Part 17 (Overhead Power Lines) was reviewed and updated. Although Part 40 was not fully reviewed, it was amended to align with Part 17 changes, including the adoption of CAN/ULC-801-14, Standard on Electric Utility Workplace Electrical Safety for Generation, Transmission and Distribution.

CAN/ULC-S801-14 - This Standard provides safety performance requirements for electric utilities, workers and employers involved in work  on  or near electric  generation, transmission and distribution systems. This applies to the construction, operation, maintenance and replacement of electric utility systems that are used to generate, transform, transmit, distribute or deliver electrical power or energy to consumer services or their equivalent.

For municipalities with electrical utilities operations, this is your chance to directly impact changes made to Part 40, ensuring they meet the unique health and safety challenges faced by your workers on your work sites.

Activity Timelines

   Role Timeline
Request organizations to identify a representative and alternate to participate in the TWG. JETI Nov. 2025
Send supporting information and conversation starter to TWG participants. JETI Nov. 2025
TWG meetings JETI/TWG Dec. 2025 & Jan. 2026
TWG to provide recommendations with rationale to JETI for review for development of finalized recommendations for proposed changes and rationale of adoption of recommendations. JETI/TWG Jan. 2026

call to action

AMHSA is participating in Part 40 TWG meetings in December and January. We need your input to support Part 40 TWG Terms of Reference requirements and proposed recommendations.

If you—or a member of your municipality—have technical experience in electrical utility work and would like to add your voice, please contact Craig Hrynchuk.