Health & Safety Committees

The Workers Compensation Act requires that most Employers in the province have a Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (JOHSC).

Due to the number of staff and workers at UBC and the diversity of occupations and relative hazards, UBC has chosen to implement three JOHSCs at the Okanagan Campus.

The three JOHSC’s are:

Additional Resources:


JOHSC – AVP Students

UBC aims to provide a safe workplace for all employees, students, and visitors. In order to enhance our safety culture, UBC’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) are accountable directly to their Vice President’s portfolio.

The JOHSC – AVP Students has the following members:

Jeff Stonehouse BCGEU Library Worker Co-Chair
Carla Lanigan BCGEU Wellness and Accessibility Services Worker Representative
Jackie Toews BCGEU Athletics & Recreation Worker Representative
Amy Lauterbacher M&P Disability Resource Centre Employer Co-Chair
Christine Squire M&P Academic and Career Development Employer Representative
Robyn Bunn M&P Student Experience Office Employer Representative
Jason McLeod Non-voting Health, Safety & Environment Committee Resource
Sherry Petkau Non-voting AVP Students Office Administrative Support

Terms of Reference

Meeting Minutes


JOHSC – Provost & VP Research

UBC aims to provide a safe workplace for all employees, students, and visitors. In order to enhance our safety culture, UBC’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) are accountable directly to their Vice President’s portfolio.

The JOHSC – Provost & VP Academic has the following members:

Praveen Rajan BCGEU Engineering Worker Representative
Kathy Rush FA FHDS Worker Representative
Stephen O’Leary FA Engineering Worker Co-Chair
Francois Miros M&P Engineering Employer Co-Chair
Kristen Schuppener M&P Education Employer Representative
Ieva Zigg M&P COGS Employer Representative
Cherie Michels Non-voting Health, Safety & Environment Committee Resource
Catherine Chirkoff Non-voting Health, Safety & Environment Administrative Support

Terms of Reference

Meeting Minutes


JOHSC – AVP Finance & Operations

UBC aims to provide a safe workplace for all employees, students, and visitors. In order to enhance our safety culture, UBC’s Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees (JOHSCs) are accountable directly to their Vice President’s portfolio.

The JOHSC – VP Finance & Operations has the following members:

Vacant BCGEU TBD Worker Co-Chair
Julie Forgie BCGEU Bookstore Worker Representative
Chris White BCGEU Facilities Worker Representative
Vacant BCGEU TBD Worker Representative
Dani Korven M&P SHHS Employer Representative
Roger Bizzotto M&P Facilities Employer Representative
Troy Campbell M&P Campus Security Employer Co-Chair
Adrian Hingston Non-voting Health, Safety & Environment Committee Resource
Holly Gaboury Non-voting CORM Administrative Support

Terms of Reference

Meeting Minutes


Committee Training

All new members of a JOHSC are required to receive at least 8 hours of instruction and training as soon as practical, but no more than 6 months after being selected as a member of the JOHSC.


Committee Resources

Below you will find tools and templates to help you run your Joint Occupational Health & Safety Committee (JOHSC):

University Health & Safety Policy

Under the Occupational and Research Health and Safety Policy SC1 (formerly Policy #7) UBC aims to eliminate unnecessary risks, injuries, and occupational diseases, from UBC’s workplace, teaching, and research environments. Refer to the full University Safety Policy.


UHSC (Historical Information)

The University Health and Safety Committee (UHSC) was a single committee that met the requirements of the Workers’ Compensation Act for UBC O prior to 2020. This committee was comprised of approximately fourteen members representing management and various employee groups on campus.

The University Health and Safety Committee reported to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) through the AVP of Finance and Operations.

Historical UHSC minutes can be found here