The Workers Compensation Act requires employers to establish a Joint Health and Safety Committee in any workplace that regularly employs 20 or more workers (full and part time). There may also be requirements to establish additional health and safety committees based on the nature of the workplace.

For a Joint Health and Safety Committee to function effectively, members must take appropriate education and training. Education and training should cover the information members need to assist in creating a safe and healthy workplace.

UBC offers an online course followed by a half-day practical session for UBC Local Health and Safety Committee members and supervisors.  

The training program includes the following topics:

• Accident Causation and Prevention
• Effective Committee Operations
• Safety Inspections
• Accident Investigations
• Training and Orientations
• Right to Refuse Unsafe Work
• Ergonomics
• Safety Committees
• Incident and Accident reporting
• Duties and Responsibilities: An Introduction to WorkSafeBC

Each member of a joint committee is entitled to an annual educational leave totaling 8 hours, for the purposes of attending occupational health and safety training courses conducted by or with the approval of the WorkSafeBC Board. This course meets these requirements.

The course is offered online with WebCT Vista.

Click here to enroll in the online course, you will be prompted to enter your CWL. Once you have enrolled, you can access the course by logging in at www.vista.ubc.ca. When you’ve completed the course you will be given a password to register for the practical session.

For more information, please contact:
Paul Nakagawa
604.822.6513