Committee Checklist

Use this checklist to help you evaluate your joint health and safety Committee’s operations.
Place a check in the appropriate column beside each item (D/K=Don’t Know; N/I=Needs
Improvement; N/A=Not Applicable). You may check more than one box per item if you wish.
Note that there is room to add your own items at the end of each section. Then discuss priority
improvements with the rest of your Committee members.

Results
Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
1. Does the workplace have an effective violence
prevention program?
2. Does the workplace have an effective ergonomics
(MSIP) program?
3. Does the workplace have an effective industrial
hygiene program?
4. Does the workplace have an effective WHMIS
program?
5. Does the workplace have a formal “early safe return
to work program”?
6. Does the workplace have a formal process for
accommodating disabled employees?
7. Is there a system in place to track illnesses and
injuries?
8. Is illness and injury data regularly collected and
analyzed?
9. Do both management and union Committee
members participate in work site inspections,
accident investigations and the necessary follow-
up?
10. Do Committee members influence the planning of
new processes, procedures, and equipment that
have health and safety impacts?
11. Does the Committee maintain a positive working
relationship with the employer?
12. Has the Committee successfully identified and
prioritized significant hazards or problems?
13. Are there unresolved issues that the Committee has
not been able to address well?

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Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
14. Does the Committee use appropriately the
provisions of the Act and Regulation for resolving
conflicts?
15. Does the Committee make clear, specific
recommendations to address hazards and other
OH&S issues?
16. Has the employer provided written responses to
Committee recommendations within the 21-day
time limit?
17. Does the employer implement Committee
recommendations consistently?
18. Do employees perceive that the Committee is
performing a useful function?
19. Has the number of complaints that Committee
representatives have to address decreased?
20. Has the number of injuries or occupational diseases
decreased?
21. Does the Committee regularly follow-up on the
implementation of decisions and
recommendations?
22. Does the Committee audit investigations in which it
is not directly involved? Does the Committee have
an effective process to regularly evaluate its own
work?

Process
Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
1. Do Committee members agree on the basic goals
and purposes of the Committee?
2. Do Committee members feel free to express
themselves honestly and directly during Committee
meetings?
3. Do Committee members listen carefully to other
people’s points of view?
4. During discussions, does the Committee distinguish
between facts and opinions?
5. Are conflicting opinions and points of view treated
with respect?
6. Do Committee members learn from one another?

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Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
7. Does the Committee work through problems in a
systematic, logical way?
a) Do Committee members clearly define the
problem, stating the what, who, when, where and
how before considering solutions?
b) Does the Committee use simple techniques like
brainstorming to generate creative ideas?
c) Does the Committee use flipcharts or white
boards to display key points for everyone to see?
d) Does the Committee look at a variety of possible
solutions to problems before selecting the best
solutions?
e) Does the Committee base selection of priority
problems and/or solutions on clearly stated criteria?
8. Do the co-chairs work well together to facilitate the
discussion?
9. Do members of the Committee attend most of the
meetings?
10. Do Committee members have alternates in case
they are unable to attend a regularly scheduled
meeting?
11. Does the Committee pay enough attention to the
social or human relations aspects of group work?
12. Do Committee members have an opportunity to
contribute to the agenda?
13. Do Committee members receive agendas several
days in advance of the meetings?
14. Does the Committee monitor its own use of time
against the agenda during meetings?
15. Is the Committee actively involved in all of the major
workplace health and safety initiatives?
16. Does the Committee regularly use Accident
Investigation Reports, Workplace Inspection Reports,
first aid records and health and safety statistics to
inform and support decisions?
17 Does the Committee receive and discuss complaints
from employees?
18. Does the Committee communicate well to
management and union employees about its
activities?

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Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
19. Are Committee meetings posted on designated
OH&S bulleting board(s)?
20. Are Committee minutes prepared and distributed to
Committee members on time?
21. Does the Committee receive monthly, cumulative
quarterly and cumulative annual safety statistics?
22. Does the Committee meet at least once a month?
23. Do Committee members have adequate time and
resources to carry out their responsibilities?
24. Does the Committee regularly evaluate its own work
and processes?
25. Does the Committee conduct an orientation session
for new members? For new employees?

Structure
Item Yes No D/K N/I N/A
1. Does the Committee have agreed terms of
reference?
2. Are Committee roles and responsibilities clearly
defined?
3. Is the Committee the right size?
4. Are there at least as many union as employer
representatives on the Committee?
5. Do the respective unions select the union members?
6. Are all sectors, departments, and unions adequately
represented on the Committee?
7. Does the Committee always use a clear, written
agenda?
a) Does the agenda indicate who is responsible for
particular roles within the meetings?
b) Does the agenda clearly specify the intended
purpose of the discussion items?
c) Does the agenda include time limits for each
item?
d) Are the co-chairs involved in setting the agenda?
8. Does the Committee produce clear, action-oriented
minutes of every meeting?
a) Do the minutes specify who is responsible for
carrying out Committee decisions?

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 b) Do the minutes specify deadlines for the
completion of activities based on Committee
decisions?
c) Do the minutes accurately summarize the content
of Committee discussions?
9. Does the Committee report to the “right” person
representing the employer?
10. Does the Committee receive the necessary support
from the employer?

List the top 3 improvements your Committee should make in the next year.

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Worksheet 2 – Self Assessment Checklist

Committee Name: Location:

Completed By: Date:

This self assessment checklist is to assist the JOH&S Committee in ensuring that they are
functioning in accordance with the WCB requirements. It is a part of the overall annual
program review. The self-assessment is made up of three parts:

√ Self Assessment Checklist – To identify required items

√ Scoring Sheet – To measure and compare the committee’s performance over time
√ Action Plan – To identify items that need attention

Answer each statement by checking “yes” or “no” and rate the effectiveness of the element for
your committee. A score of “0” = No or not present. A score of “10”, a perfect score, indicates
that the element is considered to be best practice. It is recognized that this may be difficult for
certain questions.

Yes No Score 0-10

1. The committee has written terms of reference that
effectively establishes the committee’s rules of procedure.
2. There are a minimum of four members, worker and
employer representatives from and representing the
committee.
3. At least 50% of the members are worker representatives.
4. Worker and Employer representatives have selected on
co-chair each.
5. The use of alternates has been discussed and decided.
6. Names and work locations of committee members are
posted (including alternates where applicable).
7. The committee has a process to identify unhealthy and
unsafe workplace situations.
8. The committee advises on effective systems for
responding to unhealthy and unsafe workplace situations as
identified above.

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 Yes No Score 0-10
9. The committee considers and quickly deals with
complaints.
10. The committee consults with workers and the employer
on issues related to OH&S and work environment.
11. The committee advises the employer on proposed
changes to the workplace or work processes that may affect
the health and safety of workers.
12. The committee advises the employer on workplace
programs and policies required by OH&S regulations and
monitor their effectiveness.
13. The committee makes recommendations to the
employer on educational programs promoting health and
safety of workers and compliance with the OH&S
regulations, and monitors their effectiveness.
14. The committee ensures that incident investigations are
carried out as required.
15. The committee ensures that regular inspections are
carried out as required.
16. The committee has discussed and decided what level of
participation they will have in inspections and has assigned
representatives if applicable.
17. The committee has discussed and decided what level of
participation they will have in investigations and has
assigned representatives if applicable.
18. The committee has discussed and assigned (if applicable)
representative to participate in inquires.
19. The committee meets regularly at least once per month.
20. The committee regularly uses the OH&S standards and
regulations in their deliberations.
21. The committee has a means for soliciting and
considering employee OH&S suggestions.

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 Yes No Score 0-10
22. The committee reviews and comments on inspection
reports.
23. The committee reviews and comments on
incident/accident reports and reports on industrial or
occupational disease.
24. There is an action column, a deadline for completion
column and a responsibility assigned column shown in the
minutes for follow up and to ensure action items are
completed.
25. There is a report prepared for each meeting with a copy
provided to the employer, the workers and the unions, as
applicable.
26. The committee ensures that written recommendations
are directly related to healthcare.
27. Complete and clearly describe actions required without
requests from the employer for additional information to
make a decision.
28. Reasonably capable of being completed/approved.
29. Forwarded to the employer in writing requesting a
written response within 21 calendar days.
30. The committee ensures that the minutes of the 3 most
recent meetings are posted.
31. The committee has ensured that all committee minutes
are readily accessible to committee members, workers and
the WCB.
32. The committee has been provided with the necessary
equipment, space and clerical staff to carry out their duties.
33. The committee has confirmed that they report to their
employer through the employer rep on the committee.
34. The committee has discussed “information that must be
kept confidential” and how they will achieve the
confidentiality.
35. The committee has discussed “refusal of unsafe work.

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