New Requirements For Certification Training

The Occupational Health and Safety Act requires some workplaces to have either a Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) or a health and safety representative. Where a JHSC is required, at least two JHSC members—one management and one worker—must be certified by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD).

As of March 1, 2016, all training programs to become a Certified Member of a JHSC must be approved by the Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) of Ontario. IHSA is an approved training provider by the CPO and this JHSC Certification Part Two training program is a CPO-approved training program under the JHSC Certification training program standard.

All approved certification programs must have a generic Part One course and a sector-specific Part Two course. A Refresher training course is also required every three years to maintain certification. NOTE: Refresher training is not legally required by anyone who completed training to become a Certified Member of a JHSC before March 2016 (i.e., anyone who was previously certified under the requirements of the 1996 JHSC certification standard).

Program Description

Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification—Part Two (Construction) helps learners address specific health and safety hazards in the construction sector. Building on Joint Health and Safety Committee Certification—Part One training, participants will reinforce their ability to recognize, assess, and control hazards, and evaluate the effectiveness of the controls. In addition, they will be required to analyze workplace hazards through the use of hazard management tools and follow up this analysis by developing action plans and making formal recommendations to the employer.

IHSA customers may request that this course be delivered at their facility. However, if participant numbers are less than 50% of the course maximum (see below), the IHSA instructor has the discretion to cancel or reschedule delivery of the course.

Program Content

• Falls from heights
• Slips, trips, and falls
• Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)
• Electrical Hazards and Failure to Lockout
• Caught in, or between equipment
• Physical hazards
• Hoisting and rigging
• Material handling
• Confined space entry
• Toxic and Designated Substances

Participants must bring a valid piece of photo ID and proof of JHSC Certification Part One to the program to confirm their registration (e.g., Driver’s License, Permanent Resident Card, Passport, Student Card).

To obtain a certificate of completion for this program, participants must complete a written evaluation and achieve a grade of 75% or better in an evaluation.

Those who want to become Certified Members must complete JHSC Certification Part One before completing a JHSC Certification Part Two. Also, JHSC Certification Part Two must be completed within 12 months of successfully completing Part One. If more than 12 months have passed, participants must retake Part One before taking Part Two.

Further, all courses conducted At-Customer-Facility programs must supply the names of all participants so we can confirm that the prerequisite has been completed before the day of training.

Please note that substitution of participants cannot be accommodated on the day of training, this is to ensure that all participants have completed the necessary prerequisite.

Certification is awarded by the MOL after Part One and Part Two have been completed. To maintain their certification, Certified Members must take a one-day JHSC Refresher course every three years.

Please note that all participants must arrive to the program at the designated start time and must attend the program in full to successfully complete the program.

Who Should Attend?

Those who are seeking sector specific hazard management training, working toward their NCSO designation, health and safety representatives, members of a JHSC, and members of a JHSC who want to become Certified Members