National Nurses Week 2024

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE - BILL 168

What is workplace violence?

Under Ontario Bill 168 now known as Section 32 of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario OHSA), workplace violence is defined as:  

• 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; or
• A statement or behaviour that it 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. 

What are the requirements for Ontario Employers?

The law breaks down into a series of steps that every employer must take. These include:

1. Develop written policies that are posted with respect to workplace violence and workplace harassment.
2. Conduct a risk assessment for workplace violence.
3. Develop a workplace violence and harassment program.
4. Incidents or threats of workplace violence must be reported to the employer or supervisor.
5. Establish practice of how the employer investigates and manages incidents, complaints, or threats of workplace violence.
6. Reassess policies and programs.
7. Train employees in these policies and procedures.
8. Employee refusal to work where he/she has reason to believe that he/she is in danger of being a victim of workplace violence.