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Right to refuse

Currently, OHS rules stipulate employees have a responsibility to refuse dangerous work, but that message doesn’t place enough of the onus for safety on employers, Gray said.

“By creating a right to refuse, we are essentially making it so that the employer becomes more responsible,” she added.

It’s one of the core changes praised by Alberta Federation of Labour president Gil McGowan.

“The new legislation removes all the ambiguity and makes it clear workers will not be harmed in any way; they will not face any reprisals,” he said.

The slew of changes outlined in Bill 30, An Act to Protect the Health and Well-being of Working Albertans, stem from the first comprehensive government review of the OHS act in four decades. An independent review of the WCB system likewise spurred the changes, marking the first overhaul of that legislation in more than 15 years.

“This is such a significant advance for workplace safety that it almost brings tears to my eyes,” McGowan said Monday. “For decades now, Alberta has been a laggard when it comes to health and safety.”

He added he believes the legislation will change the culture at the WCB, which he described as being too focused on the corporate bottom line — “(It will) return to its original purpose, which is to provide support and assistance to injured workers.”

‘A preventable tragedy’

Donna Van Bruggen, who spoke about the 2012 death of her son David Van Bruggen, 35, in Lethbridge, was on hand after the legislation was tabled.