Employers of federally regulated workplaces have a legal obligation to train their joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members and health and safety representatives.
 
Workplaces that fall under federal jurisdiction include air transportation and airports, banks, most crown corporations, marine services, oil, gas and railway companies that cross international or provincial borders, grain and flour mills, broadcasting, telecommunications, transportation, mining and exploration.

What federal legislation informs?

Although federal committees don’t benefit from a specific Certification training standard as Ontario regulated JHSCs do, the Canada Labour Code (CLC) specifies federal JHSCs must receive from their employer “the necessary training in health and safety and are informed of their responsibilities” under Part II of the Code. The code is based on the internal responsibility system (IRS) that recognizes that while employers bear the greatest responsibility of keeping workers safe, JHSCs support the IRS to ensure workplace health and safety. By law JHSCs must play a significant role in developing policies and programs, also comprising of workplace hazard prevention and workplace violence and harassment programs, their implementation and monitoring. Other legal duties include workplace inspections, investigation of worker concerns, record keeping and participation in the implementation of workplace changes that might affect occupational health and safety (OHS).

Compliance made easy with WHSC

Comprehensive training helps ensure employers and workplace representatives alike fully exercise their considerable rights and responsibilities. Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC), Ontario’s official OHS training provider delivers an instructor-led virtual Federal Committees and Representatives training program that meets and exceeds legal requirements.

Learning objectives for this two-day program include:

• JHSC rights and duties under federal health and safety laws and regulations with special focus on the role and responsibilities of workplace and policy committees.
• Methods for conducting workplace inspections and incident investigations and strategies aimed at fostering active and confident members of workplace and policy committees.
• Employer obligations to prevent workplace violence and harassment, stemming from changes to the CLC regulations. 
• How the two levels of health and safety representatives (workplace and policy where applicable) can communicate and work together effectively for change.  

Register for WHSC Federal Committees and Representatives - Virtual Training

When you have more than a few to train, consider on-site training. For more information please contact a training services representative in your area. On-site delivery can be a timely and cost-effective way to get learning into the hands of more.

Provincial workplace requirements

Under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, workplaces with 20 or more workers or those that use designated substances must have at least two JHSC members: one representing workers and one representing management. Both members are required to become and remain certified by completing Certification Part I, Part II, and Refresher training. Properly trained and certified JHSC members play a vital role in creating workplaces that are physically and psychologically safe and healthy.

Register for WHSC Certification Part I, Part II or Refresher

Interested in OHS French training? Contact WHSC training services representative, Christopher Gervais at cgervais@whsc.on.ca or at 613-407-2187. 

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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