Certified joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members play an important role in protecting workers and helping employers meet their health and safety responsibilities.

A JHSC serves as the foundation of a safe and healthy work environment. Together representatives of workers and employers work to identify hazards, consider relevant legislation, industry standards, and recommend practical solutions to prevent worker injuries, illnesses and deaths. JHSC members are essential in advancing safer, healthier workplaces. For example, a worker representative on the JHSC has the authority to inspect the workplace, be consulted on and present during testing, and investigate work refusals, critical injuries, or fatalities. When they agree certified members also have the power to shut down unsafe work. And all committee members have the power to identify hazards and provide recommendations to the employer to enhance worker health and safety. 

 

Legal Requirements

Did you know that in Ontario, most workplaces with 20 or more employees, or those that involve designated substances, are required to have a JHSC in place? To ensure JHSC members are fully prepared, regulation under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) (O. Reg297/13) clearly requires employers to provide and pay for approved training, including training time.

To meet this obligation, at least two members, one representing workers and one representing employer management, must achieve and maintain certification. This process includes completing Certification Part I, which covers occupational health and safety legislation and hazard recognition, followed by Certification Part II, which focuses on hazards and controls specific to the workplace or industry sector. To ensure knowledge remains current and effective, certified members must also complete a refresher program every three years, keeping pace with evolving legislation, standards, and emerging workplace risks.

One-stop shop for essential training

Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) offers all parts of Certification trainingincluding 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.

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For French language training visit our website. For service in French, contact Training Services Representative, Christopher Gervais, cgervais@whsc.on.ca or 613-407-2187.

WHSC is Ontario’s official government-designated health and safety training centre with 40 years’ experience and the first and only health and safety association in Ontario to design and implement a secure digital Record of Training system. This innovative system simplifies the way official training records are accessed, verified, and shared, thereby reducing administrative burden and strengthening workplace health and safety.

Interested in additional health and safety training? Check out our complete training catalogue.

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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