New Protections For People At Work
December 9, 2009 4:57 PM
McGuinty Government Confronts Violence In The Workplace
The new protections will require employers to:
- Develop and communicate workplace violence and harassment prevention policies and programs to workers
- Assess the risks of workplace violence, and take reasonable precautions to protect workers from possible domestic violence in the workplace.
- Allow workers to remove themselves from harmful situations if they have reason to believe that they are at risk of imminent danger due to workplace violence
Amendments to Ontario's Occupational Health and Safety Act passed today and will go into effect six months after Royal Assent.
QUICK FACTS
- The legislative amendments enhance the province's existing Safe at Work Ontario strategy.
- A 2004 Statistics Canada survey, Criminal Victimization in the Workplace, found 17 per cent of violent incidents in Canada occur at the workplace.
LEARN MORE
CONTACTS
- Bruce Skeaff
Communications Branch
416-326-7405
- Emily Bullock
Minister's Office
416-326-7713
ontario.ca/labour
"The government has acted to protect workers from workplace violence. Everyone should be able to work without fear of violence in a safe and healthy workplace."
– Peter Fonseca
Minister of Labour
"By protecting our health care workers from violence and harassment, we're helping them focus on what is most important - providing patients with high quality health care."
– Deb Matthews
Minister of Health and Long Term Care
"These amendments are an important step forward for women in addressing workplace violence and harassment. They will make a difference in the lives of women and workers across Ontario."
– Laurel Broten
Minister Responsible for Women's Issues
Communities
