When you’re starting to drown between employee concerns, payroll duties and helping your CEO -- HR Insider is there to help get the logistical work out of the way.
Need a policy because of a recent regulatory change? We’ve got it for you. Need some quick training on a specific HR topic? We’ve got it for you. HR Insider provides the resources you need to craft, implement and monitor policies with confidence. Our team of experts (which includes lawyers, analysts and HR professionals) keep track of complex legislation, pending changes, new interpretations and evolving case law to provide you with the policies and procedures to keep you ahead of problems. FIND OUT MORE...
Which Workplaces Must Establish a JHSC?

While joint health safety committees (JHSCs) and health and safety representatives (safety reps) are mandatory in all jurisdictions, the rules governing when they’re required at a particular worksite vary by jurisdiction. Here’s a rundown of each jurisdiction’s rules.

JHSC/HSR Requirements Across Canada
JURISDICTION JHSC REQUIRED SAFETY REP REQUIRED
FEDERAL At each workplace employer controls with 20 or more normally employed employees (unless workplace is a ship or MOL grants an exemption) [Can Labour Code, Sec. 135(1)] At each workplace employer controls with fewer than 20 normally employed employees (unless workplace is a ship or Ministry grants an exemption) [Can Labour Code, Sec. 136(1)]
ALBERTA Prime contractor must establish JHSC at each site it controls with 20 or more workers where work expected to last at least 90 days unless Director grants exemption [OHS Act, Section 16(2)]
Employer must establish JHSC for entire company if it employs 20 or more workers where work expected to last at least 90 days unless Director grants exemption [OHS Act, Section 16(1)]		 Prime contractor must establish safety rep at each site it controls with 5 to 19 workers where work expected to last at least 90 days unless Director grants exemption [OHS Act, Section 17(2)]
Employer must establish safety rep for entire company if it employs 5 to 19 workers where work expected to last at least 90 days unless Director grants exemption [OHS Act, Section 17(1)]
BRITISH COLUMBIA At each workplace employer controls where 20 or more of its workers are regularly employed; WorkSafeBC may order or OK multiple or overlapping JHSCs at same site [Workers’ Comp Act, Sec. 125] At each workplace employer controls where 9 to 19 of its workers are regularly employed or any other workplace WorkSafeBC orders[Workers’ Comp Act, Sec. 139]
MANITOBA Employer: At each workplace where 20 or more of its workers are: i. regularly employed; or, ii. involved in work expected to last at least 90 days; any other workplace Board orders (1) [Workers’ Health & Safety Act, Sec. 40(1)]
Prime Contractor: At each construction project involving 20 or more workers where work expected to last longer than 90 days [Workers’ Health & Safety Act, Sec. 40(3)] 		Employer: At each workplace, other than a construction project, where 5 or more workers are regularly employed that’s not required to have a JHSC [Workers’ Health & Safety Act, Sec. 41(1)(a)]
Prime Contractor: At each construction project even if it has a JHSC [Workers’ Health & Safety Act, Sec. 41(1)(b)]
At each workplace the Board orders [Workers’ Health & Safety Act, Sec. 41(1)(c)]
NEW BRUNSWICK Employer: At each workplace with 20 or more regularly employed employees other than a construction project site [OHS Act, Section 14(1)]
Medium Project Site Contractor: At any site for which contractor is responsible where work expected to last longer than 90 days with 30 to 499 employees [OHS Act, Section 14(3)]
Large Project Site Contractor: At any site for which contractor is responsible with 500 or more employees at any given time [OHS Act, Section 14(4)] 		Employer: At each workplace with 5 to 19 regularly employed employees other than a construction project site if OHS policy provides for safety rep or WorkSafeNB orders [OHS Act, Section 17(1)]
Project Site Contractor: At any site for which contractor is responsible with: i. 5 to 29 employees regardless of how long work lasts; or ii. 30 to 499 employees expected to last longer than 90 days [OHS Act, Section 17.1]
NEWFOUND. At each workplace with 10 or more employed workers [OHS Act, Section 37] At each workplace with 9 or fewer employed workers [OHS Act, Section 41]
NOVA SCOTIA Employer: At each workplace with 20 or more regularly employed persons
Constructor: At each project site with 20 or more regularly employed persons [OHS Act, Section 29(1)]		 Employer: At each workplace with 5 to 19 regularly employed persons [OHS Act, Section 33(1)]
Constructor: At each project site with 5 to 19 regularly employed persons [OHS Act, Section 33(2)]
Any workplace with fewer than 5 regularly employed persons if Director orders [OHS Act, Section 33(3)]
ONTARIO Employer: At each workplace with 20 or more regularly employed workers or fewer than 20 if workplace is subject to Designated Substance Reg. or MOL orders JHSC for site [OHS Act, Section 9(2)]
Constructor: At project site where work expected to last longer than 3 months that has 20 or more regularly employed workers or fewer than 20 if workplace is subject to Designated Substance Reg. or MOL orders JHSC for site [OHS Act, Sections 9(1) + (2)] 		Employer: At each workplace where no JHSC is required where number of workers regularly exceeds 5 (or for which MOL orders safety rep) [OHS Act, Section 8(2)]
Constructor: At project site where work expected to last longer than 3 months for which no JHSC is required and where number of workers regularly exceeds 5 (or for which MOL orders safety rep) [OHS Act, Section 8(1)]
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Employer: At each workplace with 20 or more persons regularly employed by employer, or for which Director orders a JHSC [OHS Act, Section 25(1)]
Constructor: At each project with 20 or more persons regularly employed by a constructor for which work is expected to last longer than 3 months, or for which Director orders a JHSC [OHS Act, Section 25(2)]		 Employer: At each workplace where no JHSC is required with 5 or more persons regularly employed by employer, or for which Director orders a safety rep [OHS Act, Section 26(1)]
Constructor: At each project where no JHSC is required with 5 or more persons regularly employed by a constructor for which work is expected to last longer than 3 months, or for which Director orders a safety rep [OHS Act, Section 26(2)]
QUEBEC At any establishment employing more than 20 workers and listed as a site requiring a JHSC in Schedule 1 of the OHS regulations [OHS Act, Section 68] *In any workplace with a JHSC, at least 1 member must be designated as safety rep to act independently of JHSC [OHS Act, Section 87]
* In any establishment listed as a site requiring a JHSC in Schedule 1 of the OHS regulations, regardless of how many workers, the union (or 10% of workers if there is no union) may designate safety rep for site, as long as it/they provide employer + CNESST written notice [OHS Act, Section 88]
SASKATCHEWAN Employer: At every place of employment where 10 or more workers of one employer work, or for which Director orders JHSC [Sask. Employment Act, Section 3-22(1)]
Contractor: At every construction site where 10 or more workers or self-employed persons work or are expected to work and for which work is expected to last longer than 90 days, or for which Director orders JHSC [OHS Regs., Section 38]		 Employer: At every place of employment where fewer than 10 workers of one employer work [Sask. Employment Act, Section 3-24(1)]
Contractor: At any place of employment listed in Table 7 of the Appendix to the Regs. where more than 4 but fewer than 10 workers of one employer work [OHS Regs., Section 45]
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES + NUNAVUT At each workplace where 20 or more workers work or are likely to work more than 90 days, or for which Chief Safety Officer orders JHSC [OHS Regs., Section 37] At each workplace with fewer than 20 workers and no JHSC [OHS Regs., Section 39]
YUKON At each employer workplace where 20 or more workers are regularly employed for more than one month; Chief industrial safety officer + chief
mines safety officer can grant exemptions or order JHSCs at sites with <20 workers [OHS Act, Section 12(20)]		 At each employer workplace where a JHSC isn’t required depending on number of workers and workplace’s hazard classification:
“A” hazard: 5 or more workers at workplace
“B” hazard: 10 or more workers at workplace
“C” hazard: 15 or more workers at workplace
[OHS Act, Section 13(1)]