EDMONTON, Nov. 4, 2026: Hiring a roofer for an Alberta rental? Check four things first: a current WCB-Alberta clearance letter, a written fall protection plan, liability insurance and a written scope that says who is the prime contractor. Two 2026 convictions over one worker's death show why: the province lists fines totalling $518,000.
Alberta's list of occupational health and safety (OHS) convictions records that on December 11, 2023, during a roof replacement in Edmonton, a worker fell through a roof to the floor below and died. A landscaping company, as prime contractor, was fined $318,000 on August 19, 2026, and a roofing company, as employer, was fined $200,000 on October 28, 2026, both amounts including the 20 per cent victim fine surcharge.
Does an Alberta landlord have duties under the OHS Act when hiring a roofer?
Possibly, and the safe course is to assume so. The Occupational Health and Safety Act gives duties to an "owner". Section 1(hh) defines the owner as the person registered under the Land Titles Act as owner of the land on which work is being or may be carried out, or a person who agrees with that owner to be responsible for the owner's obligations. It excludes a person who occupies the premises as a private residence, "unless a business, trade or profession is carried on in that premises." The Act does not spell out how that applies to a rental, so whether a particular landlord is the "owner" depends on whose name is on title and how the property is used. The cautious approach is to act as if the owner's duties apply to you.
Under section 9, every owner must, as far as reasonably practicable, keep the land and buildings in a condition that does not endanger workers or anyone else, tell the workers and contractors about any hazard the owner has identified, and cooperate with anyone carrying out a duty under the Act. Read conservatively, that means putting any hazard you know of, such as a skylight or rotten sheathing, in writing to the roofer before work starts.
When does a roofing job need a prime contractor in Alberta?
Under OHS Act s.10(1), a construction work site with two or more employers must have a prime contractor, and repairing or renovating a structure is construction work under s.1(e). The person in control of the work site must designate the prime contractor in writing (s.10(2)). If nobody is designated, the person in control is deemed to be the prime contractor (s.10(3)). The exception in s.10(4) covers only a private dwelling occupied by that person, which a rental you do not live in is not.
The Act does not define "person in control," so take the cautious view. If two trades work on the job, name one in the written contract as prime contractor, have them accept it, and ask that their name be posted at the site as s.10(6) requires. In the Edmonton case, the prime contractor was convicted under s.10(7)(a) of failing to set up a system to ensure compliance where workers were working at height.
What should you check before a roofer starts?
- WCB-Alberta clearance letter. WCB-Alberta recommends one before work starts, during the contract and before final payment; it shows whether the contractor is covered and in good standing. If you pay a contractor whose WCB account has an outstanding balance, you can become responsible for the unpaid premiums.
- Fall protection plan. Under OHS Code s.139, a worker who may fall 3 metres or more must be protected, by a guardrail first, then travel restraint, then a personal fall arrest system. Section 140 requires a written fall protection plan, available on site, where a worker may fall 3 metres or more without guardrails. Ask to see it, including the anchors and the rescue procedure.
- Liability insurance. Ask for a certificate of commercial general liability insurance.
- Written scope. One signed document with the work, dates, materials, prime contractor and known hazards.
What it means for landlords
These fines fell on companies, not a property owner. But owners have their own duties, and an owner in control of a multi-trade job who designates no prime contractor may be deemed one. A leaking roof is a repair issue too under Alberta's minimum housing standards for rentals, and our winterizing checklist for Alberta rentals covers what to book before the snow.
What to do now
Get the clearance letter, insurance certificate and fall protection plan before you sign, and name the prime contractor in the contract. If the crew needs to get into a unit, for example through an attic hatch, give your tenants proper notice; see how much notice an Alberta landlord needs to enter for repairs. For the wider rules, start with the Alberta landlord guide.
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