The B.C. Fed Health and Safety Centre is funded by WorkSafeBC. The Centre provides Joint OH&S Committee Members, Worker Representatives, Workers and Students with the education and resources necessary to participate proactively and effectively in health and safety at their workplaces, thereby contributing to the prevention of workplace injuries, illnesses, diseases and deaths in BC.

The Centre is your best source of health and safety education. All courses are designed to be interactive and relevant. Centre facilitators are highly skilled and knowledgeable about OH&S.

An advisory committee of representatives from affiliated unions, community organizations and WorkSafeBC oversees and directs the work of the Centre.

Learn more about the Centre

OH&S Committee Education

Workers Compensation Act, Division 4, Section 135

All Joint OH&S Committee Members have the right to have 8 hours of annual OH&S education. The costs of the training course and reasonable costs of attending the course must be paid for by the employer.

It is important that Committee Members attend the training courses each year.

The Centre is able to offer Joint Committee Members a continuum of courses, assisting them to build their knowledge and skills, thereby supporting them to participate more effectively in their committees.

Committee Courses

OH&S courses are offered in communities around British Columbia. The courses meet the criteria for the 8 hours of annual health and safety education that committee members are entitled to under the Workers Compensation Act (Division 4, Section 135). Arrangements can be made for the Centre to provide private sessions for individual workplaces and for unions.

Over 6, 000 joint committee members, worker representatives and workers have participated in these courses. To view course descriptions click here.

ESL OH&S Program

In 2006, the Centre offered a new and exciting course for immigrant workers. The course is designed to teach OH&S using an ESL model.

At the end of the first session, the participants spoke about their increased confidence in addressing health and safety issues at their workplaces.

Young Worker Workshops

Young workers are at the front of the line when it comes to workplace vulnerability. One-third of workplace injuries reported are from young workers. The lack of empowerment that young workers feel in their jobs is often one of the reasons why these workers are at such a high risk of injury and death on the job.

In 2003, the B.C. Fed Health and Safety Centre began to offer workshops to young workers in high schools and employment programs in communities across the province. There have been over 40 young workers from various affiliates trained to deliver this interactive workshop, and since 2003, the Centre has spoken to over 30,000 high school students across the province.

For sessions in your high school contact: B.C. Fed Health and Safety Centre, 604-430-1421.