This presentation includes a checklist that can be used to see if you safety committee is meeting the legislative requirement in Nova Scotia. It also cover such thing as roles, responsibilities and well as common mistakes.

1. AWARE-NS is funded by the Nova Scotia Department of Health & Wellness
Joint Occupational Health and Safety
Committee Effectiveness
Developed by Heather Matthews OHS Specialist

2. Topic Covered
1
What should be on JOHS Committee Agenda?
2
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
3
4
5
Typical Duties of a Committee
Tips for JOSH Committee to set Annual Safety Goals
Tips to an effective JOHS Committee & Common
Mistakes by Committee

3. Question
1
Have you completed an
Audit of your Safety
Committee in the past?

4. JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
Audit Structure:
JOINT OH&S
COMMITTEE
AUDIT
AUDIT RATING
AUDIT
EXPECTATIONS
Response Points
Available
Technique Points
AwardedYes No D P I
QUESTIONS:
Audit Rating Key:
D: Documented
P: Posted
I: Indicated

5. Committee structure
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
1. Is a JOH&S Committee established where required?
Workplaces with 20 or more regular employees require a
JOH&S Committee OH&S Act: C.7, S.29.
2. Does the JOH&S Committee have established Rules of
Procedure?
Must be documented. Rules of Procedures for
JOH&S Committees must be specific to the
Committee at that location.
OH&S Act: C.7, S.30

6. Committee structure
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
3. Do the Rules of Procedure include a clear documentation of
the functions of the JOH&S Committee and its method of
operation?
Should include functions of the JOH&S Committee, method
of appointing committee members and chairperson, meeting
frequency, preparation and posting of minutes, and making of
recommendations. Must be specific to the
Committee at that location.
OH&S Act: C.7, S.30.

7. Committee Training and Responsibility
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
4. Have JOH&S Committee members received OH&S training?
Training should include OH&S Act, JOH&S Committee
Responsibilities and Rules of Procedure, Inspection and
Investigation Procedures. JOH&S Committee
JOHSC Question: Have you received Occupational
Health and Safety Training to help you
understand the role and responsibilities of
JOH&S Committees and how to perform
your duties?
OH&S ACT: C.7, S. 28(2a)

8. Committee Training and Responsibility
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
5. Are JOH&S Committee Members aware of their responsibilities?
Compare answer to the lists in the OH&S Act.
OH&S Act: C.7, S.31
JOHSC Question: Describe the responsibilities of the
JOH&S Committee under the OH&S Act.

9. Committee Duties
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
6. Is a list of JOH&S Committee members posted at each
permanent workplace?
Must be current. OH&S Act: C.7, S.37
7. Are JOH&S Committee minutes posted?
Must be current. OH&S Act: C.7, S.37

10. Committee Recommendations
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
8. Does the JOH&S Committee make recommendations to a
level of management with the authority to resolve health
and safety issues?
Important to get things done. Must be a level with authority
to resolve heath and safety issues.
JOHSC Question: To whom does the JOH&S Committee
make recommendations?
OH&S ACT: C.7, S. 28 (2c)

11. Committee Duties
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
9. Are action items from the minutes addressed in a timely
manner?
Examine the minutes. Must not be carried forward from
meeting to meeting with no action or progress.
OH&S ACT: C.7, S. 30
10. Do JOH&S Committee members participate in
workplace inspections?
JOHSC Question: Do JOH&S Committee
members participate in workplace inspections?
OH&S Act: C. 7, S. 31 and 33(6)

12. Committee Inspections and Investigations
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
11. Are JOH&S Committee members involved in incident
investigations?
JOHSC Question: Do JOH&S Committee members
participate in incident investigations?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 31 and 33(6)
12. Are JOH&S Committee members involved in the development of
safe work procedures?
JOHSC Question: Do JOH&S Committee
members participate in the development or
review of safe work procedures?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 31 and 33(6)

13. Committee Duties- Program Development
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
13. Did the JOH&S Committee participate in the development
of the department’s OH&S Program?
JOHSC Question: Did the JOH&S Committee participate
in the development of the agency’s OH&S Program?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 28 and 31
14. Does the JOH&S Committee undertake a yearly review of the
WHMIS Training?
JOHSC Question: Did the JOH&S Committee
undertake a review of the agency’s WHMIS
Training Program during the past year?
WHMIS Regulations, S.5(3)

14. Committee Duties
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
15. Does or will a JOH&S Committee member accompany a
Department of Labour OH&S Officer on Inspections or
investigations?
JOHSC Question: Does (or will), a JO&S Committee member
accompany a Department of Labour OH&S Officer on
inspections or investigations?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 31, 33 and 50

15. Committee Duties-Program Development
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
13. Did the JOH&S Committee participate in the development
of the department’s OH&S Program?
JOHSC Question: Did the JOH&S Committee participate
in the development of the agency’s OH&S Program?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 28 and 31

16. Committee Duties- Monitoring
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
16. Where workplace monitoring is undertaken, is the OH&S
Committee informed of the monitoring activities, allowed to
observe or otherwise be involved, and given a copy of all
monitoring results?
JOHSC Question: Where workplace monitoring is undertaken, is
the OH&S Committee informed of the monitoring activities,
allowed to observe or otherwise be involved, and given
a copy of all monitoring results?
OH&S Act: C. 7, S. 35

17. Committee Duties- Complaints and Work Refusals
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
17. Is the JOH&S Committee involved in the investigation of
OH&S complaints which are not resolved at the supervisor
level?
JOHSC Question: Is the JOH&S Committee involved in the
investigation of OH&S complaints, which are not resolved at
the supervisor level?
OH&S Act: C.7, S. 31 and 33(6)

18. Committee Duties- Complaints and Work Refusals
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
18. Is the JOH&S Committee involved in Work Refusals under the
OHS Act which are not resolved at the supervisor level?
JOHSC Question: Is the JOH&S Committee
involved in Work Refusals under the OHS Act
which are not resolved at the supervisor level?
OH&S Act: C.7, S.43

19. What should be on JOHSC Agenda?
1. Call to Order.
2. Attendance/Regrets.
3. Approval of Agenda.
4. Read and approve minutes of previous meeting.
5. Business arising from minutes.
6. Workplace health and safety topics for discussion( trends).
7. Incident review(# , type, severe- action to be taken)
8. Inspection Report
9. New Business
10. Updates on scheduled safety-training programs.
11. Adjournment.

20. Question
What are some of the
practices and activity that
your committee performs
that you are most proud of?
2

21. Tips to an effective JOHSC
1.Hold meetings on a regular basis, following a consistent
schedule.
2.Set clear meeting agendas, publish them in advance, and follow
them.
3.Keep minutes of each meeting that summarize the issues
discussed, the proposed actions to be taken, and the person(s)
responsible for follow-up on each item.
4.Minutes should be published and provided to each committee
member, as well as made available to all employees in a timely
fashion.

22. Tips to an effective JOHSC
5.Members should be required to attend all meetings, except in
the case of emergencies. If a member cannot attend a meeting,
then an alternate should be sent. Attendance should be taken at
each meeting and recorded in the minutes.
6.Chairperson must show strong leadership, keep things moving.
7.Publicize the Committee’s accomplishments, be positive. Give
credit where credit is due. Keep employees informed of the
Committee’s activities. Find ways to recognize the efforts of
individuals and groups within the organization who make
significant contributions to the Safety Program.

23. Tips to an effective JOHSC
8.Top management officials should attend Safety Committee
Meetings (at least periodically). They must show interest in the
Safety Program to both supervisory management and labor.
9.Improved inspections. Implementing cooperative inspections
that include workers and management representatives. Making
inspections fun and gratifying by noting not just the negative but
the positive conditions in the workplace, and Issuing rewards after
inspections. (This many not fit all work place environments)

24. Question
What are some of the
Behaviors that you would
like to change in how your
safety committee
functions?
3

25. Common Mistakes by Committee
1. The group has no clear-cut job to perform, or the committee
has no reason to exist.
2. There is talk, talk, talk…without decisions.
3. People are appointed who are neither interested nor
experienced.
4.The chairpersons are not qualified by experience, desire, or
ability.

26. Common Mistakes by Committee
5.The group has no orderly plan, no time schedule.
6.People do not show up for meetings and inspections.
7.The work of the committee is not recognized by employees or
management.
8.Agendas are sent out late or distributed only at the meeting.

27. Typical Duties of a JOHSC
1. Report unsafe conditions and suggest corrective actions.
2. Meet at least monthly or as Terms of Reference states.
3. Clearly define the duties and responsibilities of officers and
members.
4. Review incidents, near misses, Supervisor’s Incident
Investigation Reports, claim summaries and loss analysis on a
periodic basis.
5. Review all serious injuries. Not for fault finding, but for fact
finding to prevent re-occurrence of the same or similar incident.

28. Typical Duties of a JOHSC
6. Contribute ideas and suggestions for improvements in safety.
7. Work safely and influence others to work safely.
8. Make periodic Agency/facility safety audits.
9. Sponsor and coordinate contests, poster programs, safety
drives, etc., and supply other informational materials which can
help to promote safer operations.
10. Develop, implement, and review written safety programs.

29. Typical Duties of a JOHSC
11. Build enthusiasm for safety programs.
12. Direct involvement with organizational wide safety training.
13. Establish dispute resolution procedures.
14. Propose and create safety checklists.
15. Identifying high-risk job tasks and developing written safe
operating procedures.

30. Tips for JOSHC to set Annual Safety Goals
1. Establish a written plan
2. Have both Short term, 1-6 months and long term, greater than
6 months goals.
3. Goals should be measurable and achievable.
4. Goals should be reviewed periodically to determine the
effectiveness of the committee and to reset or restate goal
targets.
5.Set a special meeting time aside to work on writing goals.

31. Tips for JOSHC to set Annual Safety Goals
6. Brainstorm ideas
a. Prioritize your problems
b. Remember it’s a team effort
c. Someone from outside the department can maybe put
“perspective” on the issue
d. Have someone play “devil’s advocate”
7. Move out items that are not attainable.
8. Narrow down choices to no more than four tangible goals, two
to three works best.
9. Write them so they will have measurable results.

32. Tips for JOSHC to set Annual Safety Goals
10. Publish list and keep it visible.
11. Break down large challenges into smaller steps.
12. Regularly review progress.
13. Get updates at meetings
14. Don’t let the one year mark sneak up
a. Celebrate when goals are met!
i. Boosts morale within the group.
ii. Let’s others see the benefits of having an active
safety committee.

33. Objectives Reviewed
1
What should be on JOHS Committee Agenda?
2
JOHSC Effectiveness Checklist
3
4
5
Typical Duties of a Committee
Tips for JOSH Committee to set Annual Safety Goals
Tips to an effective JOHS Committee & Common
Mistakes by Committee

34. Thank You!