Some JHSC (joint health and safety committee) rules are listed below with the relevant legislation that outlines the requirements.
Federal
Canada Labour Code (Part II) and Safety and Health Committees and Representatives Regulations
Mandatory in workplaces where 20 or more people are employed. The Minister of Labour can exempt the employer if the work being done is relatively free from risks to health and safety.
British Columbia
Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations; Mines Act
Mandatory in workplaces with 20 or more people regularly employed. When a recommendation is made, the employer must respond within 21 days. Each year a committee member is entitled to paid educational leave of eight hours.
Alberta
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee Regulations
Committees may be required by the minister responsible for workers’ health and safety. The regulations define the committee structure, the appointment and election of members, the conduction of inspections and so on.
Manitoba
Workplace Safety and Health Act and Workplace Safety and Health Committee Regulation
Committees are mandatory for workplaces with 20 or more employees. Except on construction projects, each committee member is entitled to two days of educational leave and on construction projects, each employer with five or more workers must institute a program which all employees must attend for 30 minutes every two weeks.
Saskatchewan
Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996
An occupational health committee is mandatory at places with 10 or more workers. Committee members are entitled to five days per year to attend occupational health and safety training programs.
Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Joint Health and Safety Committees – Exemption from Requirements
Committees are required for workplaces employing 20 or more people. At least one member of the committee representing the employer and one representing workers must be certified. Exceptions include a workplace with fewer than 20 people, or a construction project with fewer than 50 people or a duration of less than three months.
Quebec
An Act respecting occupational health and safety and Regulation respecting health and safety committees
A committee is established upon a written notice sent to the employer by a certified union or, if there is no union, by at least 10 per cent of the workers or at least four workers if there are fewer than 40 workers.
New Brunswick
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Committees are mandatory at workplaces where 20 or more people are regularly employed.
Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Mandatory at every workplace or construction project with 20 or more people regularly employed and a committee is established at the discretion of the executive director of occupational health and safety if there are fewer than 20 employees.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Mandatory where 10 or more people are employed. The employer must provide pay for training for the members if there are 50 or more people employed and when there are less than 50, the employer must pay for co-chair training.
Prince Edward Island
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Required at workplaces with 20 or more employees and at workplaces with six or more the director of occupational health and safety may consult with employees and the employer to decide whether a committee should be formed or not.
Federal
Canada Labour Code (Part II) and Safety and Health Committees and Representatives Regulations
Mandatory in workplaces where 20 or more people are employed. The Minister of Labour can exempt the employer if the work being done is relatively free from risks to health and safety.
British Columbia
Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations; Mines Act
Mandatory in workplaces with 20 or more people regularly employed. When a recommendation is made, the employer must respond within 21 days. Each year a committee member is entitled to paid educational leave of eight hours.
Alberta
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Joint Work Site Health and Safety Committee Regulations
Committees may be required by the minister responsible for workers’ health and safety. The regulations define the committee structure, the appointment and election of members, the conduction of inspections and so on.
Manitoba
Workplace Safety and Health Act and Workplace Safety and Health Committee Regulation
Committees are mandatory for workplaces with 20 or more employees. Except on construction projects, each committee member is entitled to two days of educational leave and on construction projects, each employer with five or more workers must institute a program which all employees must attend for 30 minutes every two weeks.
Saskatchewan
Occupational Health and Safety Act, 1993 and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996
An occupational health committee is mandatory at places with 10 or more workers. Committee members are entitled to five days per year to attend occupational health and safety training programs.
Ontario
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Joint Health and Safety Committees – Exemption from Requirements
Committees are required for workplaces employing 20 or more people. At least one member of the committee representing the employer and one representing workers must be certified. Exceptions include a workplace with fewer than 20 people, or a construction project with fewer than 50 people or a duration of less than three months.
Quebec
An Act respecting occupational health and safety and Regulation respecting health and safety committees
A committee is established upon a written notice sent to the employer by a certified union or, if there is no union, by at least 10 per cent of the workers or at least four workers if there are fewer than 40 workers.
New Brunswick
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Committees are mandatory at workplaces where 20 or more people are regularly employed.
Nova Scotia
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Mandatory at every workplace or construction project with 20 or more people regularly employed and a committee is established at the discretion of the executive director of occupational health and safety if there are fewer than 20 employees.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Occupational Health and Safety Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
Mandatory where 10 or more people are employed. The employer must provide pay for training for the members if there are 50 or more people employed and when there are less than 50, the employer must pay for co-chair training.
Prince Edward Island
Occupational Health and Safety Act
Required at workplaces with 20 or more employees and at workplaces with six or more the director of occupational health and safety may consult with employees and the employer to decide whether a committee should be formed or not.
