Duties and Responsibilities of Workplace Committees

Workplace Health and Safety Committees (WHSC)

Each workplace that has 20 or more employees must establish a WHSC to participate in addressing workplace health and safety matters at the local level.

The WHSC:

  1. complies with section 135.(7) the Canada Labour Code, Part II; the Safety and Health Committees and Representatives Regulations; the Treasury Board Secretariat/National Joint Council OHS Directive, Part XVIII; and the committee’s Terms of Reference;

  2. consults the Regional OHS Advisor on local OHS related matters;

  3. makes recommendations to the Regional Health and Safety Advisory Committee co-chairs on matters that cannot be resolved at the local level or have a regional impact;

  4. maintains adequate records and completes reports, in accordance with OHS Reporting Process; and

  5. makes recommendations to Managers/Supervisors and to management on matters that are related to the workplace.

    In addition, WHSC members may be asked to:

  6. ensure that OHS tools are available to all;

  7. assist and support with the implementation of departmental OHS initiatives;

  8. verify whether preventive and corrective OHS measures are being implemented;

  9. participate in the review of emergency and/or evacuation plans;

  10. monitor whether adequate records are being maintained and reports completed, in accordance with the OHS Reporting Process; and

  11. report back to management on OHS related matters.

For additional information on Workplace Health and Safety Committees, visit the Labour Program site.