14.01 – JOHS Terms of Reference

Meetings

1. The committee will meet every first/second/third/fourth Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday of the month.
2. If the meeting day falls on a holiday, the meeting will be held the next workday.
3. Special meetings, if required, will be held at the call of the co-chairs.

Composition

1. The committee will consist of 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 members.
2. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 worker representatives.
3. 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 employer representatives.

Worker Representatives	Employer Representatives

Co-chairs

Worker Representative	Employer Representative

Duties and Functions of the Safety Committee

1. Each committee will:
   • identify situations that may be unsafe for workers and advise on effective systems for responding to those situations
   • consider and expeditiously deal with complaints or concerns relating to health and safety
   • consult with workers and the employer on issues related to health and safety
   • make recommendations for the improvement of the health and safety of workers
   • make recommendations on educational programs
   • advise on programs and procedures in accordance with legislated requirements
   • advise on proposed changes to the workplace or the work processes that may affect the health and safety of workers
   • participate in inspections, investigations and inquiries wherever practicable
2. If the committee is unable to reach agreement on a matter relating to the health and safety of workers, a co-chair of the committee may request assistance from WorkSafeBC.

Membership

The committee membership will be established as follows:

• it will have at least 4 members
• it will consist of worker representatives and employer representatives
• at least half the members will be worker representatives
• it will have 2 co-chairs, one worker and one employer representative
• if a member of a committee chosen by the workers is unable to complete the term of office, the workers will choose another member
• if a member of a committee chosen by the employer is unable to complete the term of office, the employer will choose another member
• all members will arrange to have an alternate member to attend meetings in their place when they are unavailable to attend

Selection of Worker Representatives

Worker representatives will be selected from workers, who do not exercise managerial functions, as follows:

• by volunteering, or
• if the workers are represented by a union, they will be selected in accordance with current collective agreements/procedures
• if the workers do not make their own selection after being given the opportunity, selection or appointment will be made by the employer in accordance with Workers Compensation Act – Section 128

Selection of Employer Representatives

Employer representatives will be selected by the employer from among persons who exercise managerial functions; the employer may act as an employer representative.

Co-chairs

Co-chairs will be responsible to:

• control the meetings
• ensure an unbiased view point
• arrange the meeting place
• notify members of meetings
• prepare the agenda
• prepare any material required for review
• prepare meeting minutes
• forward a copy of meeting minutes to the employer for distribution
• prepare recommendations and forward to the employer for a response

Time from Work

1. All committee members are entitled to time from regular work activities to:
   • prepare for/participate in meetings, and
   • to fulfill their obligations/duties.
2. Time off, as described above, is deemed to be time worked for the employer and the employer will pay the committee members for that time.

Educational Leave

1. All members are entitled to an annual educational leave of 8 hours for the purpose of attending training courses conducted by or approved by WorkSafeBC.
2. Any member may designate another member as being entitled to take all or part of the member’s educational leave.
3. The employer will provide educational leave without loss of pay or other benefits and will pay for, or reimburse the worker for, the costs of the training course and the reasonable costs of attending.

Employer Obligations

1. The employer will provide each committee with the equipment, premises and clerical personnel necessary to carry out its duties and functions.
2. Upon request of the committee, the employer will provide all information regarding:
   • the identification of known or reasonably foreseeable health or safety hazards to which workers are likely to be exposed
   • health and safety experience and work practices/standards in similar or other industries of which the employer has knowledge
   • orders, penalties and prosecutions relating to workplace health and safety

Employee Concerns/Suggestions

1. Employees may bring to the attention of the committee any health and safety related concerns/suggestions by directly communicating with a committee representative.
2. If the employee bringing forward the concern/suggestion wishes to remain anonymous they will clearly indicate their expectations to the committee representative.
3. All legitimate concerns/suggestions received by the committee will be read and discussed at the next meeting and entered into the official meeting minutes.
4. All correspondence relating to each submitted concern/suggestion such as recommendations, corrective action and/or control measures will be entered into the official meeting minutes.

Documentation

1. The employer will ensure all completed documentation is maintained for at least 2 years.
2. All committee records will be made available upon request to all employees, committee members and WorkSafeBC officers.