Our focus for the month of December is JOHS Committee Roles.

      All sites have staff members who are a part of their Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee. The role of the worker on the JOHS Committee is to identify situations that may be unhealthy or unsafe for workers and advise on effective systems for responding to certain situations. Other ways that workers have a role on these committees includes:

      -to consider and expeditiously deal with complaints relating to the health and safety of workers;

      -to consult with workers and the employer on issues related to occupational health and safety and the occupational environment;

      -to make recommendations to the employer and the workers for the improvement of the occupational health and safety and occupational environment of workers;

      -to make recommendations to the employer on educational programs promoting the health and safety of workers to ensure compliance with the regulations and to monitor their effectiveness;

      -to advise the employer on programs and policies required under the regulations for the workplace and to monitor their effectiveness;

      -to advise the employer on proposed changes to the workplace, including significant proposed changes to equipment and machinery, or the work processes that may affect the health or safety of workers;

      -to ensure that accident investigations and regular inspections are carried out as required by the regulations; and

      -to participate in inspections, investigations and inquiries as provided in the regulations;

Please remember to have your CTA Health and Safety Rep notify the CTA of any pressing Health and Safety issues at your site including issues with the spaces that you work in. These concerns will enable your Released Officers and the H&S Chairperson to be better informed on the issues that our Chilliwack Teachers are facing at work each day.