Workers Health & Safety Centre has released new resources to help Ontario employers meet expanded duties to address workplace harassment.
 
Bill 132 amendments to the Occupational Health & Safety Act (the Act) took effect September 8, 2016. They build upon changes to the Act in 2010 which introduced employer duties to develop workplace violence and harassment policies and programs. Now, employers have more specific obligations to address workplace harassment, including workplace sexual harassment. To help employers comply, the Ministry of Labour has also implemented a Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act.
 
Critically important, employers must provide information and instruction to workers on the workplace harassment policy and program. As such, WHSC has recently revised their three-hour Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Training program designed to help workplace parties better understand a range of workplace violence and harassment issues, including how to fully comply with all legal obligations. The program is now available for booking.
 
Workplace representatives will also want to check out WHSC’s revised compliance checklists for employers and workers. Further, WHSC offers a new fact sheet, Workplace Harassment: from investigation to prevention, a complement to updated fact sheets on workplace violence and domestic violence in the workplace.
 
Check out WHSC Workplace Violence Resources. 
 
Other related resources:
MOL issues Code of Practice on workplace harassment
OHCOW Mental Injury Toolkit
MOL Workplace Violence & Workplace Harassment Resources
 
To learn more:
Visit:    www.whsc.on.ca 
Email:  contactus@whsc.on.ca
Call:     1-888-869-7950 and ask to speak to a WHSC training services representative.