Introduction

• ISBN: 978-1-4435-2830-6
• Issued: March 2010
• Content last reviewed: March 2010
• PDF Version [ 403 Kb / 50 pages | Download Adobe Reader ]
• See also: Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment

Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act ^[*] sets out the rights and duties for occupational health and safety of all parties in the workplace. The act provides for enforcement of the law in cases where compliance has not been voluntarily achieved.

The requirements for violence and harassment in the workplace establish minimum standards and set out the rights and duties of all those who have a role in dealing with workplace violence and workplace harassment.

Employers, supervisors and workers share the responsibility for occupational health and safety. This concept of an internal responsibility system is based on the principle that workplace parties themselves are in the best position to identify health and safety problems and develop solutions.

Ideally, the internal responsibility system involves everyone from the company chief executive officer to the worker. How well the internal responsibility system works depends on whether there is a complete, unbroken chain of responsibility and accountability for health and safety.

Every improvement in occupational health and safety benefits all of us. Through co-operation and commitment, we can make Ontario a safer and healthier place in which to work.

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