“Health and Safety in Canadian Workplaces” with guest Dr. Bob Barnetson

In this episode, Geri Ruston sits down with Dr. Bob Barnetson to examine the state of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) in Canadian workplaces, with a focus on Alberta and the realities faced by nurses.

The conversation covers:

• The true number of workplace injuries each year—likely double the official statistics—and why underreporting is so common.
• The role of the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and why some employers may discourage workers from filing claims.
• The impact of Bill 47 and how it has reshaped workers’ rights to refuse unsafe work.
• The gender bias in how “dangerous work” is perceived, and why hazards faced by nurses and care workers are often minimized.
• Why increased reporting in unionized workplaces makes it appear that more injuries occur there, when in fact it reflects a culture of transparency and protection.

Dr. Barnetson provides critical insights into how legislation, policy, and workplace culture intersect—and why empowering workers to report hazards is essential to building safer workplaces.

Dr. Bob Barnetson is a Professor of Labour Relations at Athabasca University, whose academic and professional work centers on the political economy of workplace regulation in Alberta. His experience includes prior roles with the Alberta Labour Relations Board, Alberta Workers’ Compensation Board, and Alberta Employment and Immigration, giving him both policy and institutional insight into OH&S and workers’ rights.

Notable Publications & Contributions: 

To the Breaking Point: The UCP Government's Cheapening of Labour (2023)

Why is Alberta Making Workplaces Less Safe? Alberta Undermines Internal Responsibility System with New Rules (2021)

Estimating Under-Claiming of Compensable Workplace Injuries in Alberta, Canada (2018)

Health and Safety in Canadian Workplaces (2016; co-authored with Jason Foster)

A Dirty Business: The Exclusion of Alberta Farm Workers From Injury Compensation (2015)

Please note, the information, opinions, and recommendations expressed by guests and hosts in this Podcast are their own those don’t necessarily reflect the views of Local 196 or United Nurses of Alberta.

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