Bill 168, the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace), became law on December 10, 2009. Ontario workplaces will have until June 15, 2010, to ready their workplaces, policies, programs and practices to ensure compliance with these provisions.
Bill 168 outlines violence and harassment obligations under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA). Under Bill 168, employers are required to create and implement workplace violence and harassment policies, programs to implement such policies, and engage in assessments designed to measure the risk of workplace violence.
The following links will help you better understand Bill 168 and the documents below will assist you in developing and implementing the required policies for your organization.
Developing Workplace Violence and Harrassment Policies and Programs: What Employers Need to Know
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pdf/wvps_guide.pdf
Developing Workplace Violence and Harrassment Policies and Programs: A Toolbox
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/pdf/wvps_toolbox.pdf
Bill 168 Definitions
http://www.labour.gov.on.ca/english/hs/sawo/pubs/fs_workplaceviolence.php
