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Are you ready for Bill 168…..Less than 3 months before Bill 168 becomes law. Effective June 15th 2010, workplaces in Ontario where more than 5 workers are regularly employed will be required to have the necessary policies, programs, measures and procedures in place. This Act amends the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
How is it defined?
Under Bill 168, 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 a worker”
• “An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker in a workplace that could cause physical injury to a 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.”
Under Bill 168, workplace harassment is defined as:
• “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”
Companies in Ontario need to prepare workplace violence and workplace harassment policies. They need to be posted in the workplace as well. Each Company needs to assess the risks within their company, and based on this assessment, develop a program that will address the risks identified.
Click here and you will have all the information you need to know about “How to be compliant for Bill 168”
If you are interested, the IAPA (Industrial Accident Prevention Association) has ½ day workshops and on line briefings from a lawyer’s perspective. More details are available on their website.
- Joanne Petersen
