WHAT IS A JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE?
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workplaces with more than twenty (20) employees must have a Joint Health and Safety Committee. The Joint Health and Safety Committee operates as an advisory group that works to improve workplace health and safety. The Committee is comprised of manager members, as well as worker members. Worker members of the Committee are trained in health and safety issues and are also trained to recognize hazards and make suggestions for change. Joint Committees are able to make recommendations for change. According to the Act, the Joint Health and Safety Committee primary responsibilities include, but are not exclusive to; alerting the employer to situations that are or may prove to be hazardous to workers’ health and safety; making recommendations for change; raising awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace and educating the community; investigating accidents and incidents; inspecting buildings; advocating for changes on behalf of t
