About AOHNA

Since its establishment, the Alberta Occupational Health Nurses Association (AOHNA) has been dedicated to supporting Occupational Health Nurses (OHNs) across Alberta. For decades, AOHNA provided its members with evidence-based information, networking and mentoring opportunities, and relevant supports to guide their organizations toward a healthy workforce. Through focused programs and services, AOHNA empowered OHNs to deliver excellence in occupational health and safety.

AOHNA's primary roles included:

Establishing and promoting practice standards for occupational health nursing based on scope of practice.
Advocating for adherence to the Canadian Nurses Association Code of Ethics through guiding principles.
Promoting competency standards applicable to occupational health nursing practice.
Championing the health and safety of work and workplace communities.
Providing continuous learning opportunities for Occupational Health Nurses.
Advocating for Occupational Health Nursing in various sectors, including business, hospitals, government, and other professional areas.
Responding to issues critical to the practice of Occupational Health Nursing.

As a founding member of the Canadian Occupational Health Nurses Association (COHNA), AOHNA played a significant role in shaping the national landscape of Occupational Health Nursing.

Transition to ASHSP

In April 2025, after careful consideration and in response to ongoing challenges, AOHNA members voted in favor of dissolving the association. This decision was made to ensure the continued representation and advancement of OHNs in Alberta. Effective May 2025, AOHNA members transitioned to the Alberta Society of Health and Safety Professionals (ASHSP), a provincial organization established in 2017 with the mission to achieve professional regulation for occupational health and safety professionals in Alberta.

ASHSP is actively working toward establishing a Professional Regulatory Organization (PRO) that will provide:

Title Protection – Ensuring only qualified individuals can use professional OHS titles.
Scope of Practice Protection – Restricting complex health and safety tasks to certified professionals.
Ethical and Competency Standards – Upheld through a legislated regulatory body.

This transition allows OHNs to be part of a broader interdisciplinary community, working collaboratively to enhance workplace health and safety standards across Alberta.

For more information about ASHSP and the benefits of this transition, please visit ASHSP's website.