When it comes to occupational health and safety (OHS), most business owners want to do the right thing. Organizations like Peninsula Canada will contact employers. They ask if specific items, like if Workplace Hazardous Material Information System (WHMIS) training, has been completed. They then use statements like “well you’re breaking the law, you need our course”. The scary part – is this works as a sales tactic. This story has been mentioned by several clients of ours.
The Problem: Training as a Sales Tool
Training is one of the most common areas where organizations face pushy sales calls. Many third-party providers aggressively market their courses as “mandatory” under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, Regulation, and Code. While some training must be done by an accredited or external provider, much of it does not.
This creates confusion—and in some cases, companies end up paying for training they could have delivered effectively in-house.
What Legislation Actually Requires External Training?
Under Alberta’s OHS legislation, only certain activities require training or execution through accredited third-party providers. For example:
- First Aid – must meet OHS Code requirements and be taught by an approved training agency.
- Audiometric Testing – must be conducted by qualified external providers.
- Asbestos Worker Training – specialized certification required for working with asbestos.
These examples are clear-cut. Employers have the ability to certify an employee and conduct this internally, or select from approved vendors.
Where Employers Have Options: In-House Training
For many other areas, employers have full authority to provide training in-house. In fact, we push this sometimes! Here is where we push:
- Language: In Alberta, most courses are only available in English. If your workforce speaks, let’s say, Punjabi, even if they took a third-party fall protection course, the information provided has not been retained or understood. Developing course content in-house that can be taught in Punjabi (as long as it meets legal requirements) is often a better option for these employers.
- Specialization: Sure, a forklift course will cover all the shiny classes 1, 3, and 7. But what about that rebellious three-wheeler Moffat dangling off the back of your trailer? No forklift course is going to teach you the high art of operating that tricky beast.
- Employees: there a few things that you can assess to determine if in class or training is going to be functional or due diligence. Do you and your employees have time to step away for 8 hours and learn. If the answer is no, breaking training into 8 bite sized one hour sessions is acceptable. Do your employees see the value in re-training. In some cases the answer is yes. However, some people have taken the same WHMIS training annually since 2015.
Here is our plug – if you need help developing training that is made by you, works for you and aligns with your employees – contact us today.
Why External Providers Still Play a Role
There’s a reason many companies still choose external providers:
- It saves time—especially when staff are stretched thin.
- The delivery may be polished and consistent.
- Some topics benefit from an external expert perspective.
But the key point is this: employers are not always legally required to purchase external training. It’s a choice.
Before You Buy: Check the Legislation
For any health and safety purchase—whether it’s training, equipment, or services—organizations should always:
- Review the Alberta OHS Act, Regulation, and Code to determine what is legally mandated.
- Assess internal capacity—can the process be done in-house while still meeting legislative requirements?
- Decide strategically—external training can add value, but internal training may be more cost-effective and relevant.
Final Thoughts
Health and safety is about protecting people—not falling victim to unnecessary costs. While accredited providers are critical for certain legislated requirements, companies should feel empowered to take ownership of health and safety. After all, health and safety is nothing without operations and operations are nothing without safety.
