Enform Canada, the health and safety association for the upstream oil and gas industry, and Oil Sands Safety Association (OSSA), which is aimed at creating an incident free workforce, have executed an agreement to merge the two organizations.

The newly-formed association will be responsible for leading and accelerating improvements in safety performance across the industry.

Earlier plans to merge the two organizations were postponed in 2016 due to "industry market conditions".

The merger will create one integrated entity to better serve the needs of the oil and gas industry, its workers and the public.

In a joint statement Enform and OSSA said "the new organization is expected to accelerate safety performance, minimize duplication, improve operational efficiencies and reduce confusion among employers and workers regarding safety standards and training."

Closing of the agreement is expected by the end of September 2017, subject to normal closing conditions, consents and government approvals.