An Act (Bill 168) to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace officially came into force recently in Canada. Is your workplace in compliance?
Representing the most significant changes to the Occupational Health and Safety Act in almost two decades, these new amendments set forth tremendous obligations for employers.
Chief among them is the requirement for employers with six or more workers to develop and implement workplace violence and harassment policies and program(s). To this end the employer must provide all workers with information and instruction on the content of these workplace policies and related measures. The new law also requires measures to address domestic violence as a potential source of workplace violence. (WCxKitz)
To employers comply with the new legislation, the Toronto-based Workers Health & Safety Centre (WHSC) developed a new Workplace Violence and Harassment Program. The three-hour training program covers essentials for those creating a new workplace-specific program or evaluating an existing workplace violence program.
WHSC training participants discuss:
1. Definitions of workplace violence, harassment, domestic violence and bullying.
2. Legislative requirements.
3. Behavior(s) that could be considered harassment.
4. Sources of workplace violence.
5. Causes of workplace violence.
6. Warning signs of workplace violence.
7. Related risk factors and their assessment.
8. Eliminating or controlling risk factors.
Participants cover information important to addressing domestic violence:
1. Signs a victim of domestic violence may exhibit.
2. Signs a perpetrator of domestic violence may exhibit.
3. Components of an effective domestic violence program.
4. What employers, JHSC, co-workers can do to assist the victim of domestic violence.
5. Domestic violence resources.
In addition to the Workplace Violence and Harassment Program, WHSC has developed two compliance checklists. One checklist helps workers determine if their employer is in compliance. The other checklist helps employers determine what they need to do in order to comply with the new law. (WCxKitz)
To learn more about WHSC’s new Workplace Violence and Harassment Program call 1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a training service representative.
Author Rebecca Shafer, Consultant/Attorney, President, Amaxx Risks Solutions, Inc. has worked successfully for 20 years with many industries to reduce Workers’ Compensation costs, including airlines, healthcare, printing/publishing, pharmaceuticals, retail, hospitality and manufacturing. Contact: Info@ReduceYourWorkersComp.com or 860-553-6604.
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