Alberta RAVS documents. Written to the OHS Code.

Alberta RAVS — common questions

Why do Alberta contractors need ISNetworld RAVS?

Large Alberta operators — Suncor, TC Energy, Imperial Oil, Pembina Pipeline, Cenovus — use ISNetworld to pre-qualify contractors before awarding work. The RAVS (Review and Verification Service) section evaluates whether your safety program meets the operator's requirements. Without passing RAVS, your company cannot be approved to work for that client. Alberta-specific RAVS reference the Alberta Occupational Health and Safety Act (RSA 2000, c O-2) and the Alberta OHS Code (AR 87/2009), which is what ISNetworld reviewers verify against.

What is the Alberta OHS Code and why does it matter for RAVS?

The Alberta OHS Code is the detailed regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act that sets out specific requirements for confined spaces (Part 5), fall protection (Part 9), personal protective equipment (Part 18), powered mobile equipment (Part 19), working alone (Part 28), WHMIS (Part 29), electrical safety (Part 15), and more. Our Alberta RAVS documents reference the specific OHS Code part and section relevant to each element, which is exactly what ISNetworld reviewers look for when grading your submission.

How are Alberta RAVS different from Canada Industry Practices RAVS?

Alberta RAVS are written specifically to the Alberta OHS Code and Alberta OHS Regulation, using provincial regulatory language and references. Canada Industry Practices RAVS reference national standards (CSA, federal Canada Labour Code) and are accepted by hiring clients when no province-specific version is required. If your work is primarily in Alberta, use Alberta RAVS — they pass ISNetworld review for Alberta-based hiring clients and reflect the specific legislation your workers operate under.

Which Alberta RAVS elements are most commonly required?

The most frequently required Alberta RAVS elements include: Fall Protection, Confined Space Entry, Energy Isolation (Lockout/Tagout), WHMIS, Personal Protective Equipment, Incident Reporting and Investigation, Emergency Preparedness and Response, Working Alone, H2S, and Ground Disturbance. Oil and gas operators also commonly require: Powered Mobile Equipment, Rigging and Lifting, Traffic Control, and Hot Work. The specific elements required depend on your hiring client's ISNetworld configuration.

How long does it take to complete a RAVS after purchasing?

Most companies complete a single RAVS element in 15 to 30 minutes. You open the Word document, replace the placeholder company name with your company's name, review any company-specific details (such as the name of your safety officer or your specific emergency contact numbers), then copy the content into the ISNetworld RAVS questionnaire. The Alberta RAVS bundle — all elements at once — typically takes two to four hours to complete and upload.

Do I need a full safety manual before completing RAVS?

ISNetworld RAVS and your safety manual serve different purposes. Your safety manual is your internal safety program — it governs how your company operates. RAVS tells ISNetworld what your program covers. In practice, many small Alberta contractors complete their RAVS before they have a fully developed safety manual, using the RAVS documents as a starting framework. If you need a complete Alberta safety manual, On-Track Safety also offers custom safety manual development.