Definition - What does Joint Health and Safety Committee mean?

A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is a body of representatives comprised of appointed managers and workers from various industries who provide oversight and coordinate suggestions for improving workplace health and safety conditions. The Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act is a provincial mandate that sets a precedent under which JHSC members enforce regulations of health and safety standards for employers to adopt and follow on a consistent basis.

SureHire explains Joint Health and Safety Committee

Employers develop, introduce, and maintain health and safety policies designed to minimize and/or prevent accidents, injuries, and/or deaths. In the workplace, a JHSC board serves as an effective liaison between employers and the Ministry of Labour in which identifying perceived hazards and recommending solutions is mandatory. A JHSC membership consists of worker and manager representatives accommodating each group’s concerns, issues, or needs. For instance, a certified JHSC member is an occupational health and safety expert who acts on behalf of workers or managers to conduct investigations in the event of a discrepancy over hazardous conditions.

Regular JHSC inspections are important to determine whether employers continue to uphold current health and safety standards coinciding with the Ministry of Labour statutes. A JHSC inspector will evaluate factors such as ergonomics, noise levels, noxious chemicals, temperature control, equipment maintenance, and proper waste disposal. When accidents result in injuries and/or death, a certified JHSC member will garner employee feedback regarding health and safety measures in effect. If ample evidence exists to support a work refusal complaint by employees, the JHSC inspector alerts the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) in authorizing workers’ compensation claims.

Joint health and safety committees contribute to the lifeblood of universal health and safety guidelines in the workplace. Employers assign eligible JHSC members who represent both workers and managers in situations where reducing and/or precluding dangerous circumstances against potential liabilities is crucial.

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