Joint OH&S Committee

What is a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee?

A Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee is a committee comprised of an equal number of worker and employer representatives working jointly to create and promote a safe and healthy workplace. A joint OH&S committee is one way an employee can exercise her/his right to participate in OH&S at their workplace.

Requirements for Joint OH&S Committees are contained in both the Workers Compensation Act (Section 125-140) and the collective agreements. The Workers Compensation Act describes the specific duties and functions committees have.

Joint OH&S Committees meet at least once per month. The number of worker (union) representatives on a Joint OH&S Committee must be equal to or greater than the number of employer representatives. Each union has its own process to identify and select worker representatives.

Why are Joint OH&S Committees important?

Joint OH&S Committees are the cornerstone of an effective Occupational Health and Safety Program. They provide a forum for collaboration, consultation, and participation in workplace health and safety.

Joint OH&S Committees are one way that workers exercise their right to participate. Workers are knowledgeable about OH&S concerns in their workplace and know how to fix them. It's through Joint OH&S Committees that workers have input into solutions that make their workplace safer and healthier.

For more information:

• Your collective agreement article on Occupational Health and Safety. Click here to find your collective agreement.
• Workers Compensation Act Section 125-140 Joint Committees and Worker Representatives
• WorkSafeBC's Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee Workbook