Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) — Alberta
A Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is a workplace committee with equal representation from workers and management that participates in identifying hazards, reviewing safety programs, and making recommendations to improve workplace safety. Alberta OHS legislation requires JHSCs at worksites with 20 or more workers.
A Joint Health and Safety Committee is one of the formal mechanisms through which workers participate in workplace safety in Alberta. It is not just a compliance checkbox — a functioning JHSC is a genuine channel for workers to raise safety concerns, participate in hazard identification, and hold management accountable for safety commitments.
When a JHSC is required
Alberta OHS legislation requires a JHSC at any worksite that regularly employs 20 or more workers. For worksites with 5 to 19 workers, a health and safety representative (a single worker representative) is required instead of a full committee.
The threshold is based on the number of workers regularly employed at the worksite — not the total workforce of the company. A company with 50 workers spread across 10 small sites may not require a JHSC at any individual site.
JHSC composition and function
A JHSC must have equal representation from workers and management — at least half of the members must be workers who are not managers or supervisors. The committee must meet at least quarterly, keep minutes, and make written recommendations to the employer.
The employer must respond in writing to JHSC recommendations within 21 days, either implementing the recommendation or explaining why it will not be implemented.
Frequently asked questions
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