October 15, 2014
New training standards coming for JHSCs
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour has released two new certification training standards expected to take effect in early 2015.
The standards build on existing certification training requirements, and aim to ensure consistent, high-quality training delivered by qualified instructors who meet specific delivery requirements.
The MOL says that the program is aimed at joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) to help effectively fulfill responsibilities. Workplaces under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, that have 20 or more regularly employed workers, must have a JHSC. Each JHSC must have at least one certified worker member and one management member.
The certification process involves completing two parts. One is basic training and the other is workplace-specific hazard training. Part one training could be three days in duration, instead of the current two or three days, and part two training would be two days. A one-day refresher training would be required every three years for JHSC members certified under the new standard.
“In practical terms,” says Lina Della Mora, WSPS’s director of program and training delivery, “the more knowledgeable your JHSC is, the better able it will be to make informed recommendations that contribute to organizational health, safety and productivity. Committee members will be better educated in what to look for when conducting inspections, and what actions could be taken to prevent injuries or even save a life.
“JHSC members are not just on a committee, they’re leaders, role models and agents of change.”
To help support members and better understand the requirement, Landscape Ontario staffers have created a JHSC for the LO workplace. Committee members include Heather MacRae, Allie McInnes, Darryl Bond and Sally Harvey. Staff-wide safety training is currently underway.
More information on the new standards will be released in the coming months. In the meantime, no changes to certification training will take effect until early 2015.
For more information on certification training, go to WSPS’s current offerings http://wsps.ca/Shop/Training/Training-Schedules.
The standards build on existing certification training requirements, and aim to ensure consistent, high-quality training delivered by qualified instructors who meet specific delivery requirements.
The MOL says that the program is aimed at joint health and safety committees (JHSCs) to help effectively fulfill responsibilities. Workplaces under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, that have 20 or more regularly employed workers, must have a JHSC. Each JHSC must have at least one certified worker member and one management member.
The certification process involves completing two parts. One is basic training and the other is workplace-specific hazard training. Part one training could be three days in duration, instead of the current two or three days, and part two training would be two days. A one-day refresher training would be required every three years for JHSC members certified under the new standard.
“In practical terms,” says Lina Della Mora, WSPS’s director of program and training delivery, “the more knowledgeable your JHSC is, the better able it will be to make informed recommendations that contribute to organizational health, safety and productivity. Committee members will be better educated in what to look for when conducting inspections, and what actions could be taken to prevent injuries or even save a life.
“JHSC members are not just on a committee, they’re leaders, role models and agents of change.”
To help support members and better understand the requirement, Landscape Ontario staffers have created a JHSC for the LO workplace. Committee members include Heather MacRae, Allie McInnes, Darryl Bond and Sally Harvey. Staff-wide safety training is currently underway.
More information on the new standards will be released in the coming months. In the meantime, no changes to certification training will take effect until early 2015.
For more information on certification training, go to WSPS’s current offerings http://wsps.ca/Shop/Training/Training-Schedules.