Building Stronger OHS Committees Across the Federal Public Service
In 2018, the JLP was asked to assess the learning needs of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Committees within the federal public service and to propose a national solution. The study echoed findings from past studies into OHS training: the training was inconsistent across departments and regions, not easy to access, and too often focused on knowledge rather than the practical skills committee members need to make a difference in their workplaces.
Working with the Treasury Board, the Canada School of Public Service, bargaining agents and departmental representatives, the JLP designed and piloted a two-day OHS basic training for OHS committee members. The training was designed to meet the requirements for OHS training set out by the National Joint Council (NJC) while doing something equally important: putting learning into practice.
The structure of the two-day training has not changed from those early days: Union and employer representatives co-facilitate the workshop, creating a highly interactive, interdepartmental learning environment tailored to the needs of its participants. Participants learn from one another, share experiences across departments and explore practical approaches to addressing workplace health and safety issues.
I thoroughly enjoyed the activities we engaged in, particularly the dialogue sessions. The diversity within our team, with each member bringing unique knowledge and perspectives, greatly contributed to our learning experience.
The JLP training fills a unique role within the federal public service. Its curriculum reflects the realities of the federal public service and provides committee members with the practical skills required to identify hazards, conduct meaningful workplace inspections, take part in investigations, resolve issues collaboratively and fulfill their responsibilities.
A National Approach with Measurable Impact
Since the pilot in 2022, the JLP has continued to deliver OHS training across Canada, reaching thousands of committee members across the country.
- 138 two-day workshops.
- 41 communities.
- More than 2,300 participants.
- 69 federal organizations.
The city-based delivery model brings together participants from multiple departments and agencies, promoting consistency, knowledge sharing, and stronger interdepartmental networks.
I am way better prepared to participate in my OSH committee and share my knowledge.
The real, quantifiable success of the program was bolstered by the enthusiastic evaluations of participants. They wrote about feeling better equipped, more confident, knowledgeable and even inspired by the workshop. Participant feedback demonstrates the program’s quality and relevance – 95% of participants said they would recommend the training to fellow OHS committee members.
What makes the JLP OHS workshop different is not simply what participants learn. It is how they learn and who they learn with.
Healthier and safer workplaces are not created by one side working alone. They are built when employees, unions and employers have the knowledge, skills and confidence to work together.
That is where the JLP comes in. And that is why OHS and the JLP are such a natural fit.