36 Workplace Safety & Prevention Services
Closing the Loop: Setting Up a Health & Safety System in Your Small Business
Representation, selection
and Membership
The following represents some of the
minimum requirements for health & safety
representation in the workplace:
If you regularly employ 5–19 employees,
then you are required to have one health
& safety representative, representing
employees and selected by employees.
If you regularly employ 20 or more
employees, then you are required to have
a Joint Health & Safety Committee with
1 member representing the employer
and 1 member representing employees.
The employer can select their own
representative, while the employees are
responsible for selecting their member.
Duties
Health & Safety Representatives (and Joint
Health & Safety Committee members) have
assigned duties, according to the law:
Identify workplace hazards
Obtain information about hazards
Obtain information concerning the taking
of tests related to health and safety
Conduct workplaces inspections, at least
monthly
Be present for, and assist with the
investigation of work refusals
Investigate serious or critical injuries
Joint Health & Safety Committees are
required to meet at least every three months
and provide agendas and minutes of their
meetings.
