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HOME / OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH & SAFETY /

Workplace Occupational Health and Safety Committees

A Workplace OHS Committee is a group of workers and employer representatives working together to identify health and safety problems, consider their impact on the workplace and formulate recommendations to management on corrective measures.  The committee is an important communication link between workers and management as it deals with health and safety matters.  The committee does not deal with other labour/management issues.

Workplace OHS committees are important for two reasons.  First, members bring to the committee a variety of backgrounds, skills and experiences.  For example, workers have the technical in-depth knowledge about jobs; supervisors have the knowledge of how various jobs or activities affect one another or interrelate with each other; managers are knowledgeable about departmental policies, procedures and resources.  Collectively, this expertise can make a significant contribution to workplace health and safety.

A second reason why committees are important is that they create the opportunity for workers and management to work together to resolve common health and safety concerns.  Working together in this fashion tends to develop greater understanding by managers and workers of each others’ viewpoints.  It also builds trust and mutual respect which have their own additional benefits.

For further information on roles and responsibilities refer to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, Section 25 Committee and Section 26-Representative.