Joint health and safety committee training bc british columbia

JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TRAINING BC
JHSC TRAINING BC

In British Columbia BC, WorkSafeBC regulations state that all employers with 20 or more employees (overall within your business) must establish a joint health and safety committee in the workplace. If your business has more than 9 but fewer than 20 workers, you need to have a worker health and safety representative and a JOSH Committee is not required. This includes any workplace where there are 10 or more workers employed at the workplace for longer than a month. 

WHAT IS A JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE?
The JHSC is an advisor group made up of employer and employee representatives. These members work together to identify health and safety problems and recommend solutions within the workplace. This joint committee plays an important role in your occupational health and safety program, giving workers and employers a way to work together to identify and find solutions to workplace health and safety issues. All members of a joint health and safety committee must meet together for a meeting at least once per month as per WorkSafeBC Regulations.

HOW ARE JHSC MEMBERS SELECTED?
50% can be management reps and the other 50% can be employee reps. You cannot have more management reps on your committee than employee reps. For example 2 managers; 4 employees is good. Employee Reps must be elected by the workers. It is recommended to also train 1 to 2 alternates in case other members are absent. Your Joint Health and Safety Committee must meet together at a minimum of once per month.

WHAT TRAINING DO THE JHSC COMMITTEE MEMBERS REQUIRE IN BC?
According to WorkSafeBC regulations, all joint health and safety committee members selected on or after April 3, 2017 must receive eight hours of training and instruction from an approved training provider. All members are also entitled to eight hours of leave per year to attend occupational health and safety training. Training and certification must be provided to ALL members and should be valid for at least two years. 
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WHO PROVIDES THE JHSC TRAINING IN BC?
Currently in British Columbia BC, there are only 3 APPROVED health and safety consulting companies which offer the 8 Hour JHSC Training in either classroom or online formats:

JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TRAINING BC

JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TRAINING BC

​JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE TRAINING BC

WHAT LEGAL RESONSIBILITIES DO JHSC MEMBERS HAVE?
The joint health and safety committee plays an important role in your occupational health and safety program, giving workers and employers a way to work together to identify and find solutions to workplace health and safety issues. The joint health and safety committee has the following specific duties and functions in BC:
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1. Identify situations that may be unhealthy or unsafe for workers, and advise on effective systems for responding to those situations.
2. Consider, and promptly deal with complaints relating to the health and safety of workers.
3. Consult with workers and the employer on issues related to occupational health and safety, and the occupational environment.
4. Make recommendations to the employer and the workers for the improvement of the occupational health and safety, and the occupational environment of workers.
5. Make recommendations to the employer on educational programs promoting the health and safety of workers and compliance with the OHS provisions of the Workers Compensation Act and the regulations, and to monitor their effectiveness.
6. Advise the employer on programs and policies required under the regulations for the workplace, and to monitor their effectiveness.
7. Advise the employer on proposed changes to the workplace, including significant proposed changes to equipment and machinery, or the work processes that may affect the health or safety of workers.
8. Ensure that accident investigations and regular inspections are carried out as required.
9. Participate in inspections, investigations and inquiries as provided in the OHS provisions of the Workers Compensation Act and Part 3 of the Regulation.

DO JOINT HEALTH AND SAFETY COMMITTEE'S IN BC NEED TO BE EVALUATED?
Section 3.26 of the WorkSafeBC OHS Regulations requires a written evaluation to be conducted annually to determine the effectiveness of the joint health and safety committee. The intent of the evaluation is to determine whether the joint health and safety committee is in compliance with the Act and Regulation, and to assess whether the joint committee has been effective in fulfilling its role. Evaluations should also identify improvements to be considered and implemented. To assist in the evaluation process, joint health and safety committees can use the Joint Health and Safety Committee Evaluation Tool offered free by worksafebc. You are not required to use this template, however, and can use your own committee evaluation tool as long as it includes all the information required by section 3.26 of the Regulation.

WHAT OTHER DUTIES TO JHSC MEMBERS HAVE OTHER THAN ATTENDING MONTHLY MEETINGS?
The Worksafebc regulation sets out certain functions and powers that apply to the joint health and safety committee or representatives as a whole, and specific duties and powers that apply to worker members. The committee’s key functions are to:

• identify hazards in the workplace through activities like workplace inspections, accident investigations and information analyses;
• make recommendations to the employer on health and safety issues and on programs and procedures to improve health and safety;
  

Responsibilities and powers of the health and safety representative include:

• identify workplace hazards;
• inspect the workplace at least once a month;
• consult on workplace testing;
• make recommendations to the employer;
• investigate work refusals; and
• Your JHSC committee members serve as effective health and safety role models and partners in your organization. The JHSC committee has an obligation to inspect workplace practices and recommend solutions to management. This helps keep your workplace compliant, but more importantly, there is less likelihood of injuries or illnesses because of the diligence of your JHSC members.