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HealthandSafetyOntario.ca Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act) is built on the principle that workers and employers must work together to identify and resolve health and safety problems in the workplace. To meet this goal, joint health and safety committees are required by law in many Ontario workplaces. This download provides answers to commonly asked questions about joint health and safety committees. What is a joint health and safety committee? A joint health and safety committee is an advisory group required under s.9 of the Act. The committee is made up of management and worker representatives who work together to identify health and safety problems in the workplace and recommend solutions. Members meet regularly to: discuss health and safety concerns; make recommendations to the employer; and follow-up on progress made. When is a committee required? Under s.9 of the Act, joint committees are generally required in workplaces where: 20 or more workers are regularly employed; or a toxic substance order applies; or a designated substance regulation applies (e.g., a regulation for lead or isocyanates). If your company employs more than five but fewer than 20 workers, you may be required to have a health and safety representative, not a committee. How must the committee be composed? The Act (s.9) is quite specific about how committees must be composed: They must be made up of at least two persons in workplaces where fewer than 50 workers are regularly employed [s.9(6)(a)] They must have four members where there are 50 or more workers [s.9(6)(b)] They must have two co-chairs – one worker member and one management member [s.9(11)] At least half the members must be workers who do not exercise managerial functions (these members must be selected by the workers or the trade union, if there is one) [s.9(7)] The remaining members must be selected by the employer from among persons who exercise managerial functions [s.9(9)] At least one of the members representing workers and one representing managers must be certified (the certified member representing workers is to be selected by the same workers or trade union that selected the worker members of the committee) [s.9(12)] What is a certified member? A certified member is a worker or management committee member who has received special training in occupational health and safety and has been certified by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Among other things, these individuals have the power to stop work in specific circumstances and to investigate complaints that dangerous circumstances exist. If a certified member resigns or is unable to act, the employer joint HealtH and Safety committeeS

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