You and your employees are in the best position to identify and solve Health & Safety concerns together! In Health & Safety, we call this approach the Internal Responsibility System. The Occupational Health & Safety Act sets out interlocking sets of duties, obligations and rights for employers, managers and workers, so that you all work as a team.
The illustration on this page shows how shared responsibilities for Health & Safety can fit right into your business practice at every level.
If you have five or more employees, some basic requirements of the Occupational Health & Safety Act will impact your business:
| # of Employees | Requirements | |
|---|---|---|
| 1-5 | No legislated requirements for Health & Safety Representative or Committee | |
| 6-19 | 1 Health & Safety Worker Representative Worker Members to be selected by employees they will represent |
|
| 20-24 | A Joint Health & Safety Committee: Minimum 2 Members At least half of JHSC members to be worker representatives Worker Members to be selected by employees they will represent |
|
| 5+ | A Joint Health & Safety Committee: Minimum 2 Members At least half of JHSC members to be worker representatives Worker Members to be selected by employees they will represent |
A joint Health & Safety committee is composed of people who represent the workers and the employer. Together, they are committed to improving Health & Safety conditions in the workplace. Committees identify potential Health & Safety problems and bring them to the employer's attention. As well, members must be kept informed of Health & Safety developments in the workplace.
Health & Safety Representatives and Joint Health & Safety Committee Members are entitled to receive copies of:
The Act requires that at least two JHSC members - one from management and one worker representative chosen by your employees - must become "certified". This refers to specific training, approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board, which gives these members additional knowledge needed to fulfill their legal roles. For more information on Certification, please visit our Certification page.
Establishing Terms of Reference will help clarify roles, responsibilities and goals for the Joint Health & Safety Committee. When complete, this will outline how the JHSC will operate. By sticking to the Terms of Reference, you will prevent loss of direction for your committee. An effective Terms of Reference document will cover the following areas:1
Here are some steps you can take right away to get started on Certification:
1. Check out OSSA's self-paced Certification Part I and Part II products
2. Find out about upcoming classroom Certification training sessions
3. Find out more about Certification
4. Contact your local consultant
5. Contact OSSA's client service line for assistance 1-888-478-6772
This glossary provides a quick reference to common health and safety terms used throughout the Six Step Guide to Health and Safety.
It's time to change your dust mask when the filter is clogged and breathing is difficult.
