Alberta Partnerships in Health and Safety

In October, ACSESS confirmed industry commitment and concluded a Memorandum of Understanding with Alberta Employment, Immigration and Industry "AEII" to form a Partnership in Health and Safety. Partnerships in Health and Safety promotes health and safety through partnerships with safety associations, industry groups, educational institutions and labour organizations. A Certificate of Recognition (COR) is given to employers who develop health and safety management systems that meet established standards. Certificates are issued by Certifying Partners and are co-signed by AEII. Achieving and maintaining a valid COR is required to earn a financial incentive through the WCB's Partners in Injury Reduction program. Please click here, to review information on program principles and objectives and to learn more about the Certificate of Recognition program.

As a partner, ACSESS will promote awareness and involvement of its members by regularly communicating with members and actively promoting the Partnerships program.  This will be done by posting information on the ACSESS website as well as providing a minimum of two annual electronic or paper mail outs to all Alberta members, promoting Partnerships, and highlighting the relationship between ACSESS and the Alberta Association of Safety Partnerships to support members wishing to become involved in Partnerships.

Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships - 
A Premiere Choice for a Certifying Partner

Alberta Association for Safety Partnerships is a non-profit organization registered under the Society Act of Alberta for the purpose of offering Certifying Partner services to Alberta businesses regardless of size or geographic location.

Being a Certifying Partner means the Association has developed and implemented a Quality Assurance Program which meets the Quality Assurance Standard of Alberta Human Resources and Employment Partnerships Team.

All Certificates of Recognition are equal. A Certificate of Recognition issued by A.A.S.P. and Alberta Human Resources and Employment are the same as the Certificates of Recognition issued by any other Certifying Partner.

For more information on Safety Partnerships, please click here.

ACSESS has been very successful in working with government agencies on a national scape to promote to industry firms the importance of making health and safety a priority. Our participation in the Ontario WSIB safety groups over the course of the past five years has resulted in a 15% decrease in WSIB rates (supply of non-clerical labour) and a significant reduction in lost time injuries. We have developed prevention tools for industry including the Ontario Health and Safety Guide (with supplements for the provinces of Nova Scotia and Quebec) and are currently working closely with Alberta Employment to develop Industry Best Practices in the area of health and safety.

Moving forward, we will continue to work with members in Alberta to reinforce the importance and tremendous benefits of obtaining a COR and participating in the WCB's Partners in Injury Reduction Program. We will work closely with government agencies to develop and provide members with materials that will assist in meeting and exceeding the standards established by the Partnerships audit tool. Later this week in Calgary, our best practices working group will be meeting to finalize content for our Industry Best Practices Guide - a tool that will provide the staffing industry with practical information and will ensure that members are well informed of their responsibilities to maintain health and safety among temporary employees.

Please contact me should you have any questions or require any additional information,

Mary McIninch, B.A, LL.B (Membre du Barreau du Québec)
Manager of Government Relations/Directrice des Affaires Publiques
Association of Canadian Search, Employment and Staffing Services
Association Nationale des Entreprises en Recrutement et Placement de Personnel
905-826-6869/888-232-4962