The Ontario Ministry of Labour’s (MOL’s) new certification training requirements for joint health and safety committee (JHSC) members will come into effect on March 1.
Businesses that employ more than 20 people will be impacted. As per the revised standards, Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) members who achieve their certification status after March 1 will need to refresh their training every three years to maintain their status. Refresher training must be taken from a MOL-approved trainer and all training segments must be completed within six months of each other. Further, training must include interaction with an instructor, and consist of a minimum of five days—three for the first segment and two for the second. Refresher training is an additional day.
Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) suggests those companies that have JHSC members who require certification training should not put it off, as ministry inspectors will continue to check for compliance during workplace visits and inspections.
As a result of the new certification training standards, self-paced training via print-based workbooks and e-courses will not be available after Jan. 31. Further, workplaces cannot conduct their own in-house certification training unless they apply through the MOL to become an authorized training provider of an approved JHSC certification training program.
For more information on the new certification training requirements, visit the WSPS website here.
