What is the role of JHSC CUPE 3903 representatives?
The CUPE 3903 representatives that sit on the JHSCs represent part of the worker fraction of the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC). A JHSC consists of worker and employer representatives. Designated worker members inspect the workplace at least once a month and participate in work refusals and critical injury investigations. Additionally, committees identify work health and safety issues and bring them to the attention of the employer.
Note that your CUPE 3903 representative on the JHSC does not directly resolve health and safety issues but is happy to point you in the right direction.
While health and safety concerns and suggestions from CUPE 3903 members can be forwarded to the representatives, our ability to act on these concerns is constrained by the frequency of our respective JHSC meetings and our voices count for 1 – 2 votes on a much larger group including a mix of management and other union representatives. We strongly recommend submitting Workplace Incident Reports or contacting HSEWB in addition to reaching out to us at cupe3903jhscreps@gmail.com.
What to Do When You’re Unsafe
If you have health and safety concerns in the workplace, please inform your direct supervisor so they can fill in a workplace incident report (WIR) with you (which is linked here, and should be sent to wir@yorku.ca). If they are unable to fill out the WIR for you, you can reach out directly to your Area Health and Safety Officers. Escalation of concerns can be sent to hsewb@yorku.ca (Health and Safety, Employee Well-Being). You can also reach out to Employee Well-Being if you have concerns or questions about the JHSCs or health and safety standards. For quick resolutions, please also reach out to Facilities or Security as needed, and report Health and Safety concerns to your manager/supervisor within 24 hours.
For more information, see the Ontario Health and Safety Act and the general guidelines for JHSCs (particularly under Roles and Responsibilities). York University has also provided an Incident Inspection Program (which is linked here, last updated in 2023).
For critical injuries, the Joint Health and Safety Committee Representatives recommend calling Security or 911 (if needed).
E-mail address for general questions: cupe3903jhscreps@gmail.com
E-mail addresses for reporting health and safety concerns for each department can be found at the JHSC website (employee login): https://jhsc.info.yorku.ca/. This website also includes upcoming program consultations and proposed changes. If you have feedback before the deadline, please reach out to your JHSC representatives.
Email address for Health Safety & Employee Well-Being: hsewb@yorku.ca
Email address for Facilities: facilities@yorku.ca
Map showing areas of coverage
This map is linked here as a PDF!
Also see: York University Staff Association Joint Health and Safety Resources
What does it look like to be a JHSC Representative for CUPE 3903?
Typically, each CUPE 3903 JHSC Representative sits on at least one JHSC as a primary, and one JHSC as an alternate, though members are welcome to sit on additional JHSCs if roles remain open. The primary representatives attend the meetings and inspections of their respective area JHSCs in addition to responding to special investigations (1-5 hours in an average month). The alternate receives notices and updates, and attends when the primary is unavailable. The number of available positions for primary members are dependent on the respective JHSC. All JHSC members are consulted upon during safety related program changes.
Our current representatives are as follows (P: Primary, A: Alternate):
- Arts, Media, Performance & Design – P: VACANT, A: Marcelle-Anne Fletcher
- Bennett Centre for Student Services (BCSS) and Victor Phillip Dahdaleh (VPD) – P: Sylvie Côté, A: VACANT
- Central Square, Stedman, Curtis, Accolade West – P: VACANT, A: VACANT
- Engineering (Lassonde/Bergeron) – P: Elisa Dong, A: VACANT
- Faculty of Education – P: Andrea Valente, A: VACANT
- Glendon – P: VACANT, A: Anson Nater
- Kaneff Tower – P: Sylvie Côté, A: Andrea Valente
- LAPS – P: Marcelle-Anne Fletcher
- Markham – P: VACANT, A: VACANT
- Osgoode – P: Tareq Khalaf, A: Elisa Dong
- Science – P1: Anson Nater, P2: VACANT, A1: Zoya Zoya, A2: Elisa Dong
- York Lanes – P: Zoya Zoya, A: Tareq Khalaf
- York University Libraries – P: VACANT, A: VACANT
List of Ongoing Concerns
- Air quality and availability of CO2 monitors on request
- CO2 monitors have been found (may just be one), recommendation for borrowing for at most 3 days at a time
- Pest issues in a variety of buildings (Petrie, Chemistry, Accolade East, etc.)
- AMPD JHSC has prepared a recommendation regarding communication of these issues and how better to handle them
Examples of Upcoming Program Consultations
Updated as of March 21, 2025
- Cold Stress
- Water Testing for Lead
- Contractor Safety
- Joint Health and Safety Committees
- Designated Substances
Additional Specific Contacts:
- Faculty of Science contact: Brad Sheeller
Other Notes
- The Act requires the Employer to provide a written response within 21 days of the JHSC committee’s written recommendations