Touchback Safety Inc.

10/23/2026

Some movements are so familiar, you could name the trade just by watching.

What’s easier to overlook is how many times that movement happens in a day, and whether the setup makes it harder than it needs to be.

October is Ergonomics Month. Alberta OHS is reminding workplaces to look for the hazards that can lead to muscle, joint and tendon injuries before symptoms start.

For the tradespeople and operators we meet at Touchback, that means looking at everyday work. Could the materials be closer? Could the work height change? Is there a more suitable tool or handling aid?

Those are conversations worth having with the people doing the job. They know where the awkward reach is, which part takes the most effort, and what could work better.

What’s one thing you’d change about your work setup?

Alberta OHS has resources to help:
https://ohs-pubstore.labour.alberta.ca/ergonomics

10/21/2026

We join our Alberta community and Canadians across the country in mourning the Canadian Armed Forces members who lost their lives at CFB Wainwright.

To their families, friends, and military community: please accept our heartfelt condolences. To those injured and facing recovery, our thoughts are with you and your loved ones.

At Touchback Safety, we pause to remember the lives lost and honour their service to our country. We also recognize all who have worn the uniform, those serving today, and the families who stand beside them.

With deepest sympathy and respect,
The Touchback Safety Team

10/19/2026

Yesterday, it was the access route. Today, it needs another look.

Same machine. Same destination. One night of rain between them.

That’s this week’s Jobsite Plot Twist.

Softened ground, water-filled ruts, and reduced traction can affect equipment control and stability. And “it has big tires” isn’t a ground assessment.

Pause, report the changed conditions, and reassess the route. Confirm that the ground can support the equipment and task, following the machine’s operating instructions before proceeding.

At Touchback Safety, we connect training with the decisions workers face on real jobsites. Including knowing when yesterday’s plan needs updating.

When the job changes, take another look at the plan.

10/18/2026

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragic act of violence at the 488 College on Friday.

We are thinking of the staff, members and students who witnessed this traumatic event, their colleagues, and their families as they navigate the difficult days ahead.

Our hearts are with everyone impacted. We hope they are surrounded by the care, compassion, and support they need during this incredibly difficult time.

We are here for you ❤️🤍❤️

— Love from the Touchback Safety Team

Important notice regarding the incident at Local 488 this morning.

Our buildings remain under lockdown until further notice.

Please see the attached notice.

10/16/2026

That tight corner. The overhead obstruction. That spot that gets muddy after a little rain.

Your crew probably knows exactly where they are. But does everyone understand what those conditions mean for the task ahead?

Touchback Safety’s onsite training brings the learning to familiar surroundings, creating opportunities to connect course concepts with your workplace’s equipment, layout, and operating conditions.

Because “watch out for that” is a conversation worth taking further.

Tell us what your crew needs and where you’re located. We’ll help you explore your onsite training options!

10/14/2026

World Mental Health Day was October 10. But we’re keeping the conversation going because these everyday moments matter all year.

“You can always ask for help.”
So, what happens when someone does?

The response matters. Taking a concern seriously. Making time to listen. Explaining something again without making someone feel small. Following through when something needs to change.

Alberta OHS’s resource on psychosocial hazards reminds us that workplace safety includes conditions that affect mental health and well-being. Excessive workloads, unclear expectations, harassment, and ongoing disrespect deserve attention, alongside the physical hazards we’re used to looking for.

Support means looking at what needs to change in the workplace, as well as how we can help each other.

At Touchback Safety, we care about the people we work with and the people who come through our doors. That includes our team, our clients, and every student in our classroom.

We want you to feel welcome to ask a question, request another explanation, or raise a concern. Whether it’s your first course or you’ve been in the industry for years, you deserve patience and respect. You should be able to ask twice.

We can all help build workplaces where people are heard—and where speaking up leads to meaningful support.

Read more: Alberta OHS—Psychosocial hazards in the workplace: assessment and control

10/12/2026

The wind didn’t read your work plan. And it certainly didn’t check your schedule.

The lift is ready. The crew knows the task. Then conditions change.

That’s this week’s Jobsite Plot Twist.

When operating a MEWP, follow the specific machine’s wind limits and operating instructions, including restrictions for gusts. Conditions at working height can differ from those on the ground, so one reading beside the machine isn’t the whole picture.

If conditions exceed the limits, lower safely according to the operating instructions and discontinue operation. Pause, communicate, and reassess.

At Touchback Safety, we help workers recognize when changing conditions call for a different decision.

When the job changes, take another look at the plan.

10/09/2026

You know your capacity. It's not our fault you’ve chosen to ignore it!

At work, you check the load chart. At Thanksgiving, you ask someone to pass the stuffing.

Wishing you all a Thanksgiving full of good food, good company, and a plate that makes everyone question your judgment.

Happy Thanksgiving from the Touchback Safety family!

We’re closed Monday, October 12.

10/07/2026

A harness can catch a fall. The question is where the worker will stop.

Fall arrest clearance needs to be checked against the actual equipment and work area. Slide 2 shows an example of what may go into that check. Its numbers are for illustration only; they are not a completed calculation for you or your site.

And clearance is only one piece of the plan. Where a worker may fall 3 metres or more without guardrail protection, Alberta OHS requires a fall protection plan. It must cover the site’s fall hazards, the system and anchors, clearance where applicable, equipment requirements, and rescue procedures, which shall be reviewed with workers before the work begins.

Before going up, confirm the plan fits the job, check for obstructions and swing hazards, and follow the equipment manufacturer’s specifications and site procedures.

Don’t guess at the space below. Make sure you feel confident the plan will keep you safe and get you home at the end of the day.

10/05/2026

Week 5

By now, there’s probably one thing that’s clear: you don’t need every ticket. You need the right tickets for where you’re going.

Your trade matters. Your tasks matter. Your equipment matters. Your site matters.
The equipment has changed. The jobsites have changed. We’ve been training Alberta workers through more than 25 years of both.

If you’re still figuring out which direction you want to go, Alberta’s Tradesecrets Trade Profiles are a great place to explore your options. You can browse detailed profiles for more than 50 designated trades and get a better idea of what different career paths look like.

And one more resource worth keeping handy: Alberta OHS’s Young Worker’s Take Charge Card gives young workers a quick reference to workplace rights, responsibilities and safety information.

New to the trades and not sure what training you’ll need? Start here. Tell us where you’re headed. We’ll help you figure out what makes sense.

Explore Alberta Trade Profiles
Start here, with Touchback Safety.