{"id":16731,"date":"2026-01-22T20:51:08","date_gmt":"2026-01-22T20:51:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.citationcanada.com\/?post_type=glossary&p=16731"},"modified":"2026-01-22T20:51:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T20:51:10","slug":"joint-health-and-safety-committee","status":"publish","type":"glossary","link":"https:\/\/www.citationcanada.com\/fr\/glossary\/health-and-safety\/joint-health-and-safety-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Joint\u00a0Health and\u00a0Safety\u00a0Committee\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n \n \n \n \n HR Glossary\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n \n \n \n \n Health and Safety\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n \/<\/span>\n \n \n \n \n Joint\u00a0Health and\u00a0Safety\u00a0Committee\u00a0\n <\/span>\n\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n
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\n Joint\u00a0Health and\u00a0Safety\u00a0Committee\u00a0\n <\/h1>\n\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n
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Joint health and safety committees<\/span><\/h2>\n

A joint health and safety committee (JHSC) is a collaborative group within a workplace that brings together employers and employees to improve workplace safety and compliance. Its primary purpose is to\u00a0identify\u00a0hazards, recommend solutions, and evaluate workplace safety programs.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across Canada, these committees\u00a0are legislatively mandatory\u00a0for certain employers\u00a0and play a vital role in ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements. Even where they\u00a0aren’t\u00a0mandatory,\u00a0such as when a workplace has only a few workers,\u00a0these committees can still be valuable for employers to promote a safety-first workplace culture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Comprising\u00a0worker and employer representatives, a JHSC helps ensure that all perspectives on workplace safety are addressed. The committee typically holds regular meetings and\u00a0inspections to proactively\u00a0identify\u00a0and address\u00a0risks, and\u00a0also\u00a0participate\u00a0in investigations when incidents occur. By promoting transparency and open communication, and through a mutual commitment to safety, a JHSC helps businesses reduce incidents, improve employee wellbeing, and foster a productive, secure workplace culture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How many employees are\u00a0required\u00a0for a joint health and safety committee?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In Canada, the requirement for a\u00a0JHSC\u00a0varies by\u00a0jurisdiction\u00a0but\u00a0generally applies\u00a0to workplaces with 20 or more employees. Federal workplaces must have a JHSC at 20 employees. In Ontario, all workplaces with 20 or more employees must have at least two members, and those with 50 or more employees must have four members.\u00a0Workplaces with\u00a0fewer\u00a0than 20 employees often require a single worker to be\u00a0designated\u00a0as the health and safety representative tasked with working with the employer to promote and protect occupational health and safety.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Have questions about starting a joint health and safety committee at your organization?<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

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Get started now with\u00a0our\u00a0<\/span>Ontario Health and Safety Program Planning Guide<\/span><\/a>. Start improving your health and safety program\u00a0today\u00a0with actionable tips from our experts.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Or check out these blogposts for more information on trending health and safety topics in Canada:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n