Certification Training Programs
Overview
The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires that most workplaces with 20 or more workers have at least one worker and one management person to serve as certified members of a workplace Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). This certification involves training in health and safety law, and the identification, assessment and control of hazards.
Please note: The WSIB Prevention Standards & Incentives Branch has placed a moratorium on approvals of new providers of basic certification training until new certification standards have been established.
Read our Q and A (133k, pdf) about certification for joint health and safety committee members.
The Certification Standards (497k, pdf) document covers the ongoing standards-based approach to certification of Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) designated members under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (the Act).
Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC)
A JHSC has
- at least two members, for workplaces regularly employing less than 50 workers; or
- at least four members for workplaces regularly employing 50 or more workers.
- at least half the members represent workers.
Some of the duties of the JHSC are to
- identify hazards
- conduct monthly workplace inspections
- recommend ways to improve and maintain the health and safety of workers
- participate in work refusal investigations
- investigate critical injuries
Program Details
Certification involves two mandatory parts: Basic Certification and Workplace-Specific Hazard Training:
Part One, Basic Certification provides an overall knowledge of health and safety that applies to all workplaces.
Designated members acquire Basic training either through providers and programs approved by the WSIB, or passing competency testing. To be eligible for competency testing a candidate must be selected as the designated person for certification.
Part Two, Workplace-Specific Hazard Training focuses on significant hazards in your workplace. It covers how to assess those hazards and ways to control and/or eliminate them.
One worker and one management designated JHSC member must complete both Part One and Part Two of the Training.
Training for Part Two must be identical for both employer and worker JHSC members.
JHSC members can complete Workplace-Specific Hazard Training through courses offered by the health and safety associations, other health and safety professionals, or in-house training.
See the complete Guidelines for Workplace-Specific Training (152k, pdf).
Who must have a JHSC?
- Workplaces that regularly employ 20 or more workers;
- Construction projects on which 20 or more workers are regularly employed and which are expected to last three months or more;
- Any workplace, other than a construction project, to which a regulation concerning a designated substance applies;
- A workplace ordered to do so by the Minister of Labour.
Who must have certified members?
- Workplaces that regularly employ 20 or more workers;
- Construction projects on which 50 or more workers are regularly employed and which are expected to last three months or more.
Have you changed your name, address or employer?
Update your information or ensure we have the correct information on our Certification Database.
E-mail prevention@wsib.on.ca, or call 1-800-663-6639 or 416-344-1016.
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