Successful workplaces understand safer, healthier work benefits everyone. They also make a point of understanding what the law provides.
 
Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) is very clear about the different roles assigned to employers, supervisors, workers, and their representatives, and how these roles when carried out properly, intersect to support an effective Internal Responsibility System (IRS). While the law is clear employers have the greatest responsibility for worker health and safety, well trained JHSCs are paramount to supporting the IRS and to ensure it functions as it should. Given their rights under OHSA, JHSCs have the power to identify workplace hazards, make recommendations to the employer, investigate work refusals, critical injuries or fatalities, consult on workplace testing and gather other information designed to resolve of workplace hazards.
 
To prepare JHSCs, OHSA is equally clear about the need to train them. So, training your JHSC isn’t just a nice to have, it’s the law and should be part of your overall occupational health and safety program.

Compliance and the law

In Ontario, businesses with 20 or more employees, or those handling designated substances, are required to establish a JHSC. Furthermore, at least two members—one worker and one employer representative—must complete and maintain Certification Part I, Part II, and Refresher training to stay fully qualified.
 
Following completion of Certification Part I training, (JHSC) Certification candidates are required to complete Certification Part II training to be considered fully certified. The training must be completed within one year of Certification Part I training, approved by the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) of Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and address at least six significant hazards in the JHSC’s workplace. In addition, to remain certified, successful completion of the Certification Refresher course is required every three years.

Securing trusted training

WHSC offers all parts of Certification training including Certification Part I general training and Certification Part II hazard specific training. View our product sheets to learn more about the our general stream or sector specific options. Your workplace can also build a custom Certification Part II program from our more than 40 hazard modules. If you’re in need of Certification Refresher we’ve got you covered too.
 
The gold standard for training delivery is in-person. To this end we offer in-person courses in communities across the province. We know though some workplaces require a more flexible approach, so we offer training in virtual classrooms too. Regardless of the training mode you choose, training is always led by a highly qualified instructor in real time, so you can participate in engaging sessions designed to ensure learning, ask questions and learn from both our instructor and other participants. Register today to ensure your workplace representatives are fully certified and remain in compliance.

REGISTER

For more courses check out our training catalogue. Registration for virtual and in-person classroom training closes two weeks before each training date.

Need more information?
Contact a WHSC training services representative in your area.
Email: contactus@whsc.on.ca
Visit: whsc.on.ca
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