JHSC Certification Study Reference

About JHSC Certification

Ontario's OHSA requires that at least two members of the JHSC—one representing workers and one representing management—be certified. Certification is a two-part process delivered by a Ministry of Labour-approved training provider. Part 1 covers legislated duties and foundational concepts; Part 2 covers hazard-specific applications and OH&S management systems.

Part 1 Topics

• Occupational health and safety legislation in Ontario (OHSA, regulations, codes of practice)
• The Internal Responsibility System and the role of the JHSC
• Worker rights: right to know, participate, and refuse unsafe work
• Hazard identification and recognition in the workplace
• Workplace inspection procedures and documentation
• Incident investigation and reporting requirements
• Due diligence for employers, supervisors, and JHSC members

Part 2 Topics

• Occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS)
• Industrial hygiene: chemical, biological, and physical hazard assessment
• Ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorder prevention
• Workplace mental health and psychosocial hazard controls
• Emergency response planning and critical incident protocols
• Applying the hierarchy of controls to specific hazards

JHSC Roles and Powers

• Right to identify hazards and make written recommendations
• Right to obtain information about actual or potential hazards
• Right to be consulted on health and safety-related purchases
• Right to inspect the workplace before, during, or after a critical incident
• Entitlement to paid time off for JHSC functions and training

Study Tips

• Read the OHSA and key regulations (e.g., Construction, Industrial Establishments) before your training
• Practice identifying the IRS duty holder for each scenario you encounter
• Create flashcards for the 11 rights of workers and key employer duties
• Review the inspection process and be able to describe what happens after an inspection report is submitted
• Focus on root cause analysis methods for Part 2