The short answer
As of July 1, 2026, Danatec’s JHSC Certification Part 1 course reflects the latest requirements from Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development (MLITSD). The update expands content on committee effectiveness, workplace violence and harassment, human rights, hazard control, incident investigation, and mental health. The course remains approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer (CPO) under Section 9 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Certification, prerequisites, and the three-year refresher cycle have not changed.
If you coordinate training or sit on a committee, here is what changed and what to do about it.
What is JHSC Part 1 certification?
A Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) is the workplace body that brings workers and management together to identify hazards and improve safety. Under Section 9 of the OHSA, most Ontario workplaces with 20 or more regularly employed workers must have a JHSC with at least two certified members. One represents workers. One represents management.
JHSC certification has two parts. Part 1 covers foundational law, committee structure, hazard recognition, inspections, and incident reporting. Part 2 applies that knowledge to specific workplace hazards. Members must complete Part 2 within 12 months of Part 1 to be fully certified.
Danatec’s Part 1 course is CPO-approved and meets all MLITSD learning outcomes. That approval is what makes a certificate valid in Ontario, which is why the July 1 update matters.
What changed in JHSC Part 1 on July 1, 2026?
The MLITSD periodically updates the learning outcomes that every approved provider must teach. Danatec’s Part 1 course was updated on July 1, 2026 to align with the current standard. Here is what was added or expanded.
Committee effectiveness and co-chair leadership
The course now covers what makes a committee actually work, not just what the law requires. New content includes the characteristics of successful committees, leadership skills for co-chairs, and methods for evaluating committee performance over time. This shifts training from compliance to outcomes.
Expanded workplace violence and harassment requirements
Employer obligations around violence and harassment carry more weight in the updated course. It clarifies the committee’s role in violence risk assessments and in developing harassment policies. It covers when employers must inform and consult the committee, and their notification duties after a workplace violence incident. The course also reinforces that workplace harassment includes sexual harassment.
New human rights, racism, and discrimination content
The update adds material on the Ontario Human Rights Code and its connection to workplace safety. It affirms that every worker has the right to a workplace free from racial discrimination and harassment. This ties committee work to a legal framework many members had not previously covered in certification.
Strengthened violence and harassment prevention programs
Beyond policy, the course now goes deeper on the building blocks of comprehensive prevention. It expands coverage of what belongs in a workplace violence policy and program, and does the same for harassment prevention.
Updated ministry interaction requirements
The course clarifies when and how committee members and certified members interact with the MLITSD. Members now have a clearer picture of the reporting relationship with the ministry.
Enhanced hazard control training
Hazard control is the practical core of committee work. The update expands instruction on the hierarchy of controls: elimination, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective equipment. It adds examples showing how each control prevents injuries, illnesses, and exposures. Situations like these occur in real workplaces every year, so the examples are built to transfer to the job.
Improved incident reporting and investigation content
The course now addresses how to identify and respond to dangerous circumstances. It clarifies what an employer must do when a certified member reports a dangerous circumstance. It also expands on the roles of workplace parties, police, and the ministry during an investigation.
New mental health and psychological safety awareness
The update adds awareness content on mental health and psychological safety at work. This reflects the growing recognition that psychological hazards belong alongside physical ones in a committee’s scope.
Does the 2026 update affect my current certification?
No. If you are already a certified JHSC member, your certification remains valid. The update changes the content taught to new learners in Part 1. It does not reset anyone’s status.
Certified members do have an ongoing obligation. Under the OHSA, certification must be maintained with approved refresher training every three years. If a certified member does not complete a refresher within that window, certification is revoked.
If your JHSC certification has expired, you may be eligible to request an exemption from the Ontario Ministry to complete the Refresher training and maintain your certification. If your application is denied, the member must then complete Parts 1 and 2 to become certified again.
The refresher is also where members pick up the most recent legislative updates, which makes it the practical way to stay current with changes like the July 1 revisions.
Which JHSC course do I need?
The right course depends on where each person sits in the certification path.
- New members starting certification take Part 1 first. Danatec offers two formats. The JHSC Part 1 Online Training is self-paced, takes about 13 hours, and is available for $295.95 CAD. The JHSC Part 1 Instructor-Led Training is a three-day live virtual course over 24 hours, at $399.95 CAD.
- Members completing certification take Part 2 within 12 months of Part 1. The JHSC Part 2 Instructor-Led Training is a two-day live virtual course over 16 hours, at $299.95 CAD.
- Certified members maintaining status take the JHSC Refresher Instructor-Led Training every three years. It is a one-day live virtual course over 8 hours, at $199.95 CAD.
You can compare all formats on the JHSC Certification course page.
What should Ontario employers do now?
If you manage a committee or coordinate training across a team, three steps close the gap.
First, confirm your certified members. Ontario workplaces with 20 or more regular workers need at least two certified members, one for workers and one for management. Check that you meet the count and that no certifications are close to lapsing.
Second, schedule refreshers before they expire. A lapsed certification is costly to recover, as explained above, so a one-day refresher on time is the cheaper path.
Third, get new members trained on the current course. Anyone certifying now learns the updated 2026 content, which is material your committee should be applying, not just passing an exam on.
For teams certifying several members at once, bulk pricing is available. Contact Danatec at 1-800-465-3366 or sales@danatec.com, or set up a corporate account through Train Your Team.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changed in JHSC Part 1 in 2026?
On July 1, 2026, Danatec’s JHSC Part 1 course was updated to meet current MLITSD requirements. The update expands content on committee effectiveness, workplace violence and harassment, human rights and discrimination, the hierarchy of hazard controls, incident investigation, ministry interaction, and mental health awareness.
Is my JHSC certification still valid after the 2026 update?
Yes. The update applies to training delivered to new learners and does not affect the status of members who are already certified. The three-year refresher requirement still applies.
How long is JHSC Part 1 and how much does it cost?
The online course takes about 13 hours and costs $295.95 CAD. The instructor-led course runs three days (24 hours) and costs $399.95 CAD.
Do I need Part 2 to be fully certified?
Yes. You must complete Part 2 within 12 months of finishing Part 1 to be fully JHSC certified in Ontario.
How often is JHSC refresher training required?
Every three years. Should a certified member fail to meet the refresher deadline, they may submit a request to the MLITSD for an exception to complete the refresher training and subsequently obtain recertification.
Which Ontario workplaces need a JHSC?
Under Section 9 of the OHSA, most workplaces with 20 or more regularly employed workers must have a committee with at least two certified members.
Danatec Educational Services has delivered accredited workplace safety training to Canadian organizations since 1991. Danatec’s JHSC courses are approved by Ontario’s Chief Prevention Officer and aligned to MLITSD requirements. For guidance on certifying or maintaining your committee, contact our team at 1-800-465-3366 or sales@danatec.com.
Comments are closed.