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Safety Update: Joint Health and Safety Committees

Do you comply with the law regarding Joint Health and Safety Committees (JHSC)? There are indeed minimum requirements for certain organizations and the legal obligation is due diligence. A company who does not have a JHSC established runs the risk of liability under OHS law. In other words, companies who require a JHSC and do not have one, will not be able to support a due diligence defense in a situation that warrants a major incident investigation.

Section 31, joint work site health and safety committees, in the Occupational Health and Safety Act of Alberta states:

31(1) The Minister may, by order, require that there be established at any work site a joint work site health and safety committee that shall:

• identify situations that may be unhealthy or unsafe in respect of the work site,
• make recommendations to prime contractors, contractors, employers and workers for the improvement of the health and safety of workers at or on the work site,
• establish and maintain educational programs regarding the health and safety of workers at or on the work site, and
• carry out those duties and functions provided for by the adopted code.

This ministerial order is only the starting point of understanding and determining if your company has the right factors in place to ensure compliance. Next week we will explore the four questions necessary for assessing compliance with JHSC membership requirements. We will then explore the Occupational Health and Safety Code term of membership and appointment of members.

The Topic for February 7th: Joint Health and Safety Committees - The 4 Big Questions

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LEGAL DISCLAIMER
eCompliance provides information about topical OH&S issues to assist existing and potential customers to cope with their own OH&S needs. It is not intended to be legal information or legal advice. Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a lawyer if you want professional assurance that our information, and your interpretation of it, is appropriate to your particular situation.