Ontario's Bill 168 with Respect to Workplace Violence and Harassment Received Royal Assent On December 15, 2009

Bill 168, An Act to amend the Occupational Health and Safety Act with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace received Royal Assent on December 15, 2009. The amendments to the Occupational Health and Safety Act will, therefore, come into force in six months, on June 15, 2010.

Bill 168 requires every employer to take specific steps, including developing a violence risk assessment and implementing a policy and program, to prevent and manage workplace violence and harassment.

Gowlings can help employers effectively manage the potential risk of violence and harassment in their workplace. Our workplace violence risk assessment involves a four step process:

Step 1 – Documentation review;
Step 2 – Workplace risk assessment;
Step 3 – Employee survey and/or interviews; and
Step 4 – Delivery of risk assessment report.

Gowlings' trains management on the legislative requirements of Bill 168 and how to comply. We can also develop and deliver a customized training program that helps your workers and supervisors become familiar and comply with your organization’s workplace violence and harassment policy and program.

Please visit our website for new seminars dates and locations.

Norm Keith and Goldie Bassi are authors of The Human Resources Guide to Preventing and Managing Workplace Violence, the only book of its kind in Ontario to include Bill 168 requirements. Purchase the book today!

For more information, please contact Norm Keith at 416-862-5699 or email norm.keith@gowlings.com and Cathy Chandler at 416-369-7351 or email cathy.chandler@gowlings.com.