New amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Code of Alberta prohibits mandatory use of footwear that may pose health and safety risks.

This means businesses such as restaurants can no longer require employees to wear high heels.

A Friday news release revealed the mandate from the Notley government, which aims to create healthier work environments in workplaces across the province.

Prolonged wearing of high heels can lead to muscular injury, falls, and skeletal issues. There have been numerous accounts of restaurant servers who have needed to resort to surgery to treat severe injuries associated with high heels.

Footwear rules made for safety reasons such as steel toed footwear on constriction sites will still be in place.

The change will be implemented January 1st, 2019.