Certification Training for Joint Health and Safety Committee Members

Updated: February 6, 2024

The Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is an advisory committee consisting of workers and employer representatives who are committed to working together to establish and maintain a healthy and safe workplace through the Internal Responsibility System (IRS). As part of this commitment, the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires two Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) members (one worker, one management) to be certified.

In order to be certified, a worker and a management member of the JHSC is required to complete Part 1 (Basic Certification), and Part 2 (Workplace-Specific Hazard Training) for full certification. Refresher training is then required every three (3) years after completing Part 2 to maintain their certification.

All requests for Certification training will be reviewed relative to current membership on a JHSC (Certification status of other members) to meet regulatory requirements and collective agreements. EHS will pay for one (1) manager member and at least one (1) worker member to be certified to meet these requirements.

For more information, contact Environmental Health & Safety.

Part 1: Basic Certification Training provides an overall knowledge of health and safety that applies to all workplaces. This training is an instructor-led three (3) consecutive day course and is provided by an external approved training provider (Public Sector Health and Safety Association, PSHSA). EHS will work with participants to register them for training.

Part 2: Workplace Hazard Specific Training focuses on hazards within the workplace and covers RACE methodology (recognize, assess, control, and evaluate) on how to assess those hazards and ways to control and/or eliminate them. This training is two (2) consecutive days and is provided in-house by EHS. This training must be taken within one year of completing Part 1.

JHSC Refresher Training includes a review of key concepts from Part 1 and Part 2 training, relevant updates to legislation, standards, codes of practice, and occupational health and safety best practices and an opportunity for certified members to share and discuss best practices with other JHSC members across all campuses. This training is one (1) day and is provided in-house by EHS. This training must be taken within three years of completing Part 2/Refresher.

If you were certified before March 1, 2016 (under the old standard) you are exempt from completing the JHSC Refresher. If you are a certified member nearing expiry, cannot attend refresher training prior to expiring, and are an active member of a JHSC, you can apply to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development for a one-time exception BEFORE the 3-year expiration date. Please contact EHS for more information.