The Government of Ontario describes the function, role and importance of a Joint Health and Safety Committee below:
What is a joint health and safety committee?
A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is composed of worker and employer representatives. Together, they should be mutually committed to improving health and safety conditions in the workplace. Committees identify potential health and safety issues and bring them to the employer's attention and must be kept informed of health and safety developments in the workplace by the employer. As well, a designated worker member of the committee inspects the workplace at least once a month.
What is the joint health and safety committee’s role?
The committee is an advisory body that helps to stimulate or raise awareness of health and safety issues in the workplace, recognizes and identifies workplace risks and develops recommendations for the employer to address these risks. To achieve its goal, the committee holds regular meetings and conducts regular workplace inspections and makes written recommendations to the employer for the improvement of the health and safety of workers.
Why are joint health and safety committees important?
Joint health and safety committees assist in providing greater protection against workplace injury and illness and deaths. Joint health and safety committees involve representatives from workers and employers. This co-operative involvement ensures that everything possible is done to identify and eliminate or mitigate workplace health and safety hazards.
Joint health and safety committees are a key element of a well-functioning workplace internal responsibility system.
Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) Membership, 2021
| Name | Role | Extension |
|---|---|---|
| Michelle Banks | Co-Chair, Management Representative *Certified Member |
Ext. 4811 |
| Laura Rossi | Co-Chair, Worker Representative *Certified Member |
Ext. 4030 |
| David Drenth | Management Representative | Ext. 4842 |
| Sarah Tedesco |
Management Representative |
Ext. 4097 |
| Terry Kirkby | Management Representative *Certified Member |
Ext. 4505 |
| Robert Brownlee |
OPSEU Representative (Full-Time) |
Ext. 4607 |
| Paul Courville | OPSEU Representative (Full-Time) *Certified Member |
Ext. 4401 |
| Marg Foisy Iwanchun | OPSEU Representative (Full-Time) *Certified Member |
Ext. 4530 |
| Christopher Bannon |
OPSEU Representative (Part-Time) |
Ext. 4221 |
| Aaron Kociolek | FASBU Representative | Ext. 4211 |
| Tim Sibbald | FASBU Representative | Ext. 4653 |
| Vacant | FASBU Representative | Ext. |
| Joe McIntosh | NUSU Representative | Ext. 4303 |
| Carly Saunders | Recording Secretary (Leave) | Ext. 4898 |
If you have any health and safety concerns, please follow the steps listed below:
- Contact your immediate supervisor to identify the problem. Work with your supervisor to find a reasonable solution to the problem identified.
- Allow for sufficient time to have the problem corrected. If the problem is still not addressed, or corrected satisfactorily, contact your health and safety representative as identified in the chart.
- The Human Resources Generalist – Health, Safety & Wellness is available for assistance on any health and safety matter and can be reached at ext. 4811 or michellb@nipissingu.ca.