This episode of the IHSA Safety Podcast is the final segment on the roles and legal requirements of Joint Health and Safety Committees (provincial legislation) and Workplace Health and Safety Committees (federal legislation) in Ontario, featuring IHSA’s Alain Leger and Doug Heintz.

JHSCs & WHSCs play vital roles in Ontario workplaces. Alain and Doug iterate that a key function of both committees is to conduct regular monthly inspections in the workplace. On the provincial level, worker committee members choose a certified member to inspect the workplace, and it is recommended that management workers complete inspections as well. From the federal perspective, no one individual is selected; every member is trained so they can identify hazards and concerns that other workers might overlook.

Once a source of danger is reported after inspections, the committee members investigate the issue and make written recommendations to the employer to address the identified hazards. Certified members and their worker representatives can order the employer to stop work if it is considered too dangerous until hazards are properly controlled.

Alain and Doug also address questions on best practices, such as steps to take if a committee cannot reach a consensus on a recommendation, what happens in the event of a worker’s critical injury or death, and the kind of support the employer is expected to provide to the committee.

Free Resources

Workplace Inspections

Inspections Checklist

Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)

JHSC/Health & Safety Representative

Guideline for Health and Safety Representatives

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