Focus & Insights

Joint Health and Safety Committee Training: Getting Started

Joint Health and Safety Committee training helps current and future JHSC members understand their role, the Occupational Health and Safety Act, worker rights, hazard recognition, inspections, investigations, and certification requirements. Part 1 is the first step toward becoming a certified JHSC member in Ontario.

Why JHSC Part 1 Certification Matters to You

If you have been asked to join a Joint Health and Safety Committee, it can feel like a big responsibility. You are not just sitting in meetings. You are helping identify concerns, support safer work, and bring worker and employer perspectives into the same conversation.

A Joint Health and Safety Committee, or JHSC, is a workplace group made up of worker and management representatives. In Ontario, workplaces covered by the Occupational Health and Safety Act with 20 or more workers require a JHSC, and each committee needs at least one certified worker member and one certified management member.

This course helps you understand what that role means before you are expected to perform it.

What You Learn in Joint Health and Safety Committee Training

Joint Health and Safety Committee training gives you the foundation to participate with more confidence. Part 1 is CPO-approved certification training, which means it meets the requirements set by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer.

In this 3-day course, you will learn about:

The Occupational Health and Safety Act
Worker rights and workplace party responsibilities
JHSC rights, duties, and functions
Hazard recognition, assessment, and control
Workplace inspections
Responding to workplace accidents
Work refusals and critical accident investigations
Access to health and safety information

A hazard is anything that can cause harm. Hazard recognition means learning how to spot unsafe conditions or activities before someone gets hurt.

Will JHSC Certification Help on the Job?

Yes. JHSC certification helps you understand how safety concerns move from observation to action. You will learn how to communicate concerns, support investigations, participate in inspections, and use hazard management tools more effectively.

The course is available in classroom, private, and virtual formats, with training offered in English. Certification is valid for 3 years.

Take Action on JHSC Certification

Part 1 is the first step. After completing it, you can continue with JHSC Member Part 2 Certification, which focuses on workplace-specific or sector-specific hazards.

You can learn more about this course, review our safety and training courses, or talk to an expert if you are unsure which course fits your role.

For a broader look at training for higher-risk work, read our guide: Health and Safety Training for High-Risk Work.

Quick FAQ

Who is required to complete Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification – Part 1 Training?

JHSC Certification – Part 1 is required for individuals selected to become certified members of a workplace Joint Health and Safety Committee. In Ontario, most workplaces with 20 or more workers must have a JHSC, including at least one worker representative and one management representative who are certified.

How long does Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification – Part 1 Training take to complete?

JHSC Certification – Part 1 is a 3-day course that provides foundational knowledge of workplace health and safety legislation, roles and responsibilities, and hazard recognition.

Can I take Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) Certification – Part 1 Training if I am not currently a JHSC member?

We offer flexible training options to suit your needs. You can complete JHSC Certification – Part 1 through:
In-person classroom sessions at our training facility
Instructor-led virtual training delivered live via Microsoft Teams

Both formats are fully compliant and led by a qualified instructor.

Who should take this course?

– Worker and employer JHSC representatives
– Certified JHSC Members
– Supervisors, managers, and team leads
– Workers and employers in higher-risk industries
– Organizations meeting Ontario OHSA requirements
– Individuals looking to strengthen workplace health and safety knowledge

Are you a CPO Approved Provider?

Yes. JHSC Certification Training provided by CrossSafety Consulting Inc., is a MLITSD Chief Prevention Officer-approved provider and CrossSafety group company.