Staff Safety Toolkit - Occupational Health Committee
An Occupational Health Committee (OHC) is required at any workplace where an employer has 10 or more workers and consists of management and non-management members. The employer has a duty to consult and cooperate with the OHC for the purpose of resolving concerns regarding matters of health, safety and welfare at work. Consult does not mean that the employer is required to obtain approval or permission, however we must consider, in good faith, the views and opinions of the OHC in the decision-making process. We must provide the OHC with a real opportunity to
- Be informed of information essential to making a reasonable and informed assessment
- Review and assess the information and possible alternatives or options
- Comment and/or make recommendations on the possible options and alternatives
- Be considered – the employer must consider OHC recommendations and, where applicable, give the OHC credible reasons for not accepting or implementing the recommendations.
Their role is to advise and recommend, providing a mechanism to bring health and safety concerns into the open and focus attention on them until they are resolved. The OHC’s role is to monitor the workplace responsibility system and ensure it is working properly.
A workplace responsibility system (WRS), sometimes called an internal responsibility system, is a partnership between employers and employees to ensure a safe and healthy workplace. It is a system of balances and checks, combining internal monitoring by the OHC and external monitoring by the Ministry of Labour Relations and Workplace Safety’s (LRWS) Occupational Health and Safety Division. The goal is to work collaboratively to identify and control situations that may cause harm.
Everyone has a responsibility to create and maintain a safe workplace. The employer, including managers, has the greatest degree of control and, as a result, the greatest degree of responsibility.
We must take all reasonable precautions, under particular circumstances, to prevent injuries or incidents. We must exercise due diligence.
Employers must do what is “reasonably practicable” – taking precautions that are not only possible but are rational or suitable, given the particular situation.
For more information on due diligence, visit the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety.