The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is an effective way for employers to promote health and safety involvement from workers and management. Together committee members ensure workplace safety through meetings, inspections, investigations and recommendations. The JHSC provides a platform for regular assessment of your organizations health and safety effectiveness, and allows for changes and improvements to be implemented.

All workplaces with 20 or more workers are required to establish a Joint Health and Safety Committee. If you employ fewer than 50 employees, you must have a minimum of 2 members. If you have 50 or more employees, your committee must have a minimum of 4 members. Half of the members must be workers who do not have any managerial function. Worker representatives must be elected by the workers (or union if unionized). All member names must be posted. At least one management member and one worker member must be certified. To receive certification members must complete a 2-part training certification program. Part One – Basic Certification, provides overall knowledge of health and safety and the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Part Two – Workplace Specific Hazard Training, provides customized education on workplace hazards based on the results of a workplace specific hazard assessment conducted by the employer. The JHSC must conduct meetings every three months at a minimum, and meeting minutes must be recorded, signed and posted in the workplace.

Some of the functions of a JHSC include carrying out regular inspections of the workplace and in some cases, participating in the development of assessment reports and control program reports required under the designated substance regulation. JHSC members may be requested to assist in the investigation of a workplace accident. If a hazard is reported, the JHSC typically submits a written recommendation to the employer. The employer must then provide a written reply within 21 days either agreeing with the recommendations and providing a timeline for implementation, or providing a reason for disagreement. All committee members shall be available to receive employee concerns, complaints and recommendations; to discuss problems and recommend solutions; and to provide input into proposed and existing health and safety programs.

Contact Safety First Consulting for all your JHSC needs. We are committed to providing you and your employees with the training and tools they need to act as certified members of your company’s JHSC.

Our next available Joint Health & Safety Committee certification training will be held:
March 19, 20, 21, 2013 ~ Part 1
April 16, 17, 18, 2013 ~ Part 2
Contact us today by phone or online to register.

Feel free to contact our safety consulting team here .