Joint Health & Safety Committee Recruitment
July 11, 2022
Hello TRCA,
We are currently looking to recruit new workers Joint Health and Safety Representatives for a term of 3 years. It is both a legal requirement to do the nominations and have a JHSC comprised of management and worker representatives for work locations with more than twenty (20) employees.
If you are interested in joining your office or facilities JHSC, contact cheri.nixon@trca.ca for next steps.
Why do we want a robust JHSC?
Representation across various business units/departments at TRCA are crucial to the success of the JHSC because this cooperation ensures that workplace health and safety hazards are being identified and mitigated or eliminated.
It is important that everyone is doing their part to ensure a safe working environment. Ideally, there should be a worker representative on the JHSC for every department so that there is representation on the JHSC that is inclusive of the business units operating out of each work location. This will allow for more awareness and input regarding workplace health and safety issues at your workplace.
What are the benefits of being on the JHSC?
Being on the JHSC offers many benefits for worker representatives, including but not limited to the following:
- JHSC members get to collaborate and build connections with other staff across TRCA
- JHSC gain valuable leadership and committee experience, as well as training, which is an enhancement to any employment portfolio
- JHSC get a say in workplace health and safety, and contribute to a safer working environment
What is the time commitment to being a JHSC member?
There are approximately four JHSC meetings held per year, which are 1-1 ½ hours long. In addition, there are monthly workplace inspections distributed among worker representatives, with each representative completing 1-2 inspections per year (depending on the number of worker representatives in the committee). The more worker representatives there are on the JHSC, the less time commitment it is for each worker as inspections can be distributed among more members.
If JHSC worker representatives are asked to work outside regular hours to fulfill JHSC duties, TRCA will compensate worker reps for that time. In addition, workers must be allowed to fulfill JHSC duties where there are competing obligations.
More information about JHSC in Ontario can be found here: https://www.ontario.ca/page/guide-health-and- safety-committees-and-representatives
If you are interested in this opportunity, please express interest to your supervisor or contact me directly by July 30th. Furthermore, please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Thank you,
Cheri Nixon
Supervisor, Health and Safety
C: 647 330 2596