📚 Guide by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety — The Construction Safety Basics In Case Of Emergency is an online workplace safety course delivered by Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety, Calgary’s Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider. Self-paced, mobile-friendly, same-day certificate upon exam completion. Available across Canada.
🔗 Related Safety Mom courses & guides: Fall Protection Calgary · Ground Disturbance · Oil Sands Safety Certs · Instructor: Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC
COURSE OVERVIEW
Workplace safety is a shared responsibility between employers and their employees. Under the General Duty Clause, (Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act of 1970), OSHA requires the employer to provide a safe environment for their employees. However, each employee needs to be aware of the potential hazards they may be exposed to when performing construction work, take action to avoid or eliminate them, and report hazards/unsafe conditions as they arise.
This online Construction Safety Basics: In Case of an Emergency course is designed to provide a high-level overview of a number of construction safety topics and safety rules to comply with OSHA standards.
After completing this course, an understanding should be gained of:
- The appropriate actions to take based on their level of authorization in the event of an emergency.
COURSE TOPICS
This online Construction Safety Basics: In Case of an Emergency course covers the following topics:
- The importance of emergency action plans
- How to handle workplace violence
- Emergency situations involving first aid/emergency response
COURSE DURATION
Approximately 20 minutes
PASS MARK
A mark of 80% must be achieved in order to pass this course. The course can be taken three times to achieve the pass mark.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETION
Upon successful completion of this online course, learners can download a certificate of completion that is also available for printing.
CONSTRUCTION SAFETY BASICS: IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY ONLINE COURSE PREVIEW
Additional Safety Knowledge
Alberta Construction Safety Framework
Alberta construction is governed by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, OHS Regulation, and OHS Code. Prime contractors on construction sites of 20+ workers must have a written health and safety program including hazard assessments, safe work practices, training records, incident investigation procedures, and joint health and safety committee (JHSC) provisions. The prime contractor coordinates safety across all sub-trades.
The Four Leading Causes of Construction Fatalities
- Falls from height: 33–39% of construction fatalities. Prevention: fall protection systems, guardrails, safe access.
- Struck-by objects: 10–12% of fatalities. Prevention: exclusion zones, tool tethering, hard hats, load path awareness.
- Electrocutions: 8–10% of fatalities. Prevention: lockout-tagout, overhead line clearance (7 metres minimum in Alberta for lines up to 750V), GFCIs.
- Caught-in/between: 5–8% of fatalities. Prevention: trench shoring, machine guarding, energy control procedures.
These are known as OSHA’s “Focus Four” and are the target of workplace safety programs across Canada and the US.
Pre-Work Hazard Assessment
Every task must begin with a documented hazard assessment. Workers identify hazards, evaluate risk (probability × severity), and implement controls following the hierarchy: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, PPE. Alberta OHS requires a formal hazard assessment for all work, and a Job Safety Analysis (JSA) or Field Level Hazard Assessment (FLHA) for non-routine tasks. Workers have the legal right to refuse unsafe work under Section 31 of the OHS Act.
Construction Safety Basics In Case Of Emergency — Personal Protective Equipment
Construction PPE minimum standards in Alberta: CSA Grade 1 hard hat, CSA Grade 1 safety footwear (green triangle), CSA-approved safety eyewear, and high-visibility apparel meeting CSA Z96 Class 2 or 3 for roadside work. Additional task-specific PPE (respirators, hearing protection, cut-resistant gloves, fall arrest harnesses) is required based on hazard assessment. PPE is the last line of defence, not the first control.
Content reviewed by Arliss Levine, CRSP, CHSC — lead safety instructor at Safety Mom · Allstar Enviro Safety Calgary, an Energy Safety Canada Authorized Training Provider.
