Preventing violence and harassment at work is a legal responsibility for every employer in Ontario. Under Ontario health and safety law, the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), you must take clear, proactive steps to protect workers. Meeting these requirements also helps create a safer, more respectful workplace. Here’s how to get started.

1. Create and share your business' violence and harassment program and policy. In Ontario, you must have a:

• Workplace violence and harassment policy. This policy is your workplace’s written promise to protect workers from abuse, threats, harm, bullying, or unwanted behaviour. It explains what you, as the employer, will do to keep people safe, how workers can report concerns, and what happens when a problem is reported. These policies must be posted where workers can see them or shared electronically and need to be reviewed at least once a year.
• Workplace violence and harassment program. This step-by-step plan outlines what you need to do to prevent, report, and respond to violence or harassment. It turns your commitment into real, practical actions that keep workers safe every day.

2. Build workplace violence and harassment prevention programs that comply with legal requirements

Legally, a violence or harassment prevention program must include:

• Procedures to control identified risks. Controls are steps, tools, or actions used to reduce or remove a hazard, so people don’t get hurt.
• A process for reporting incidents.
• Steps for investigating and resolving incidents.
• Training for all workers and supervisors so they understand the risks and the procedures.

3. Complete a violence risk assessment

A violence risk assessment is the foundation of an effective program. It helps you identify risks so they can put the right controls in place. Without this step, policies and training may miss important hazards. To build a strong assessment, you should:

• Analyze the work and the workplace. Examine tasks, work conditions, and locations. Risks often increase when workers handle cash, serve alcohol, work alone, interact with the public, or operate in high crime areas.
• Involve your safety committee or representative. Input from workers helps ensure no risks are overlooked.
• Take the time to be thorough. Rushed assessments lead to missed risks and unclear procedures, weak controls, and incomplete training.

Need help getting started?

WSPS consultants can guide you through violence and harassment risk assessments, program development, and training. With expert support, you can meet their legal responsibilities and ensure every worker is protected from violence and harassment. Contact us to get started.

Safety Resources

• Workplace violence prevention: How to meet legal requirements and protect your team - Learn more about how you can meet violence and harassment requirements under the OHSA.
• Quick Safety Tips: Violence and Harassment – Get quick tips in 60 seconds or less on preventing workplace violence and harassment.
• Developing Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies and Programs – This toolbox helps you in developing workplace violence and harassment policies and programs.

The information in this article is accurate as of its publication date.