Changes to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) strengthen protections for workers from workplace violence and address workplace harassment and came into effect in June 2010. These define workplace violence and harassment and describe employer duties, and apply to your workplaces.
Under the Bill 168 amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act -
Workplace violence means:
- The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker
- An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker
- 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.
- 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. This may include bullying, intimidating or offensive jokes or innuendos, displaying or circulating offensive pictures or materials, or offensive or intimidating phone calls.
- Employers who are aware, or ought reasonably to be aware, that domestic violence may occur in the workplace must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect a worker at risk of physical injury.
- Employers and supervisors must provide information to a worker about a risk of workplace violence from a person with a history of violent behaviour if the worker can expect to encounter that person in the course of work, and if the worker may be at risk of physical injury. Personal information may be disclosed, but only what is reasonably necessary to protect the worker from physical injury.
Reporting hazards in the workplace is another area the Ministry of Labour has been focusing on with their "Work Smart Ontario" program. Report all hazards on the TVDSB "Accident Incident Reporting Form" available at every site.
Among other responsibilities (see "My health and safety rights" on http://www.worksmartontario.gov.on.ca/), under Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act, a worker is required to:
- report to his or her employer or supervisor the absence of or defect in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker
- report to his or her employer or supervisor any contravention of this Act or the regulations or the existence of any hazard of which he or she knows.
April 8th, Designated Full-Day PD at Althouse College
Spots are filling up quickly for this PD event. Just a reminder that it is a full-day event and you must register for both a morning and an afternoon session (or a full-day session) to meet the Board's requirement for a full-day's pay. We understand there is still room in the morning to attend the keynote speaker.
All morning sessions begin promptly at 9:00am.
All afternoon sessions begin promptly at 1:00pm.
Full day sessions run from 9:00am - 3:30pm.
Parking is provided free of charge on site.
You can bring your lunch. The cafeteria will NOT be open for sales.
You can find a map to Althouse College here:
http://www.edu.uwo.ca/programs/graduate-education/downloads/Map%20&%20Directions.pdf
The Board's Mandatory Training Modules will be posted on the Employee Portal and clearly marked as "Mandatory online modules".
