Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

Board Commitment

Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board promotes the prevention of workplace violence and a violence free workplace. HPEDSB Policy No. 1: Board Mission and Goals

states that the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board is a system of character that supports the success of each student through effective community relationships, and

safe, respectful and inclusive learning and working environment.

Workplace Violence:  Complying with the Occupational Health and

Safety Act

Effective June 15, 2010, the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) has been

amended to include employer responsibilities for addressing violence, harassment and

domestic violence in the workplace.

Employers are now required to:

• Prepare a written workplace violence and harassment policy, review it annually

and post it in the workplace

• Develop a program to implement the policy, including the following:

- measures to control risks of workplace violence

- procedure to summon immediate assistance

- procedure to report workplace violence and harassment

- procedure to investigate incidents and complaints of workplace violence

  and harassment

• Assess and share workplace risk assessments with the Joint Health and Safety

           Committee (JH&SC) and reassess as often as necessary

• Take every precaution reasonable where a worker may be exposed to domestic

violence entering the workplace

• Provide workers with personal information (history of violence) about a person

if an employee may encounter that person and may be exposed to physical injury

Employers must not disclose more information than is necessary to protect a worker

from physical injury

• Provide workers with information and instruction regarding its workplace violence policy and program

Definitions (from the Act)

• Workplace Violence

  1. the exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a

                     workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the

worker;

      2. an attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a  

          workplace that could cause physical injury to the worker; or

      3. a statement or behaviour that is reasonable for a worker to interpret

                     as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace,

                     that could cause physical injury to the worker.

• Workplace Harassment

Engaging in a course of vexatious comment or conduct against a worker

in a workplace that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be

unwelcome.

• Domestic Violence

A person who has a personal relationship with a worker may physically harm or attempt to harm or threaten physical harm to a person at work.

 

QUICK LINKS

Procedures

Procedure 420:  Occupational Health and Safety

Procedure 420-E:  Personal Protective Equipment

Procedure 421: Safe Workplace-Violence in the Workplace (pdf)

Procedure 422: Safe Workplace - Workplace Harassment (pdf)

Forms

EMPLOYEE Accident/Violent

Incident Report Form 421-1F (fillable form)

SUPERVISOR Accident/Violent Incident Investigation Report

Form 421-2F (fillable form)

Resources

FLYER - Safe Workplace and Learning Environments (pdf)

POSTER - Safe Workplace and Learning Environments (pdf)

VIDEO - (HPEDSB) Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

DECLARATION (pdf)

VIDEO -(long version with scenarios, use password #b168OESC) Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

QUESTIONS and ANSWERS (pdf)

MINISTRY OF LABOUR - A guide on Workplace Violence and Harassment:  Understanding the law

FAST FACTS - Workplace Violence, Complying with the Occupational health and Safety Act

Questions or comments

Your input is important. Please email or call 613-966-1170 ext 2119

Contacts:

Gillian McCurdy,

Safe Workplace Coordinator,

613-966-1170 ext 2119

gmccurdy@hpedsb.on.ca

Debbie Lucas,

Human Resources Secretary,

613-966-1170 ext 2518

dlucas@hpedsb.on.ca

Tom Johnston,

Occupation Health & Safety Officer,

613-966-1170 ext 2247

tjohnston@hpedsb.on.ca

Doug Middleton,

OSSTF Rep.

Prince Edward Collegiate Institute

dmiddleton@hpedsb.on.ca

Jason Surgent,

ETFO Rep.

Maynooth Public School

jsurgent@hpedsb.on.ca

Lee Waterhouse,

ETFO Rep.

Park Dale School

lwaterhouse@hpedsb.on.ca

Rob Black,

CUPE Rep.

Georg Umb Building

rblack@hpedsb.on.ca

Doug Oliver,

HAPE-OTL Rep.

doliver@hpedsb.on.ca