Workplace Violence

Where can I get help and information?

Workplace Violence Prevention

Visit the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board’s website for more information and links to resources to help you deal with violence in the workplace, including information on:

conducting a risk assessment, and
developing and implementing a workplace violence prevention program.

Emergency: Call Police

Always call the police when an act of violence has occurred or someone is threatened with violence in the workplace. Acts of violence, and threats of acts of violence, are covered by Canada’s Criminal Code, which is enforced by the police.

Domestic Violence

If you are concerned that you, a co-worker or an employee may be a victim of domestic violence, contact the Assaulted Women's Helpline at 1-866-863-0511 or Femaide at 1-877-femaide (336-2433) for support. Also, see the following for assistance and information: the Neighbours, Friends and Families website at or the Ontario Women's Directorate website.

Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination

Complaints regarding harassment, bullying and discrimination on prohibited grounds may be addressed by the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC). The OHRC enforces the Ontario Human Rights Code, which provides for the right to work without discrimination. Contact the OHRC.

Ministry of Labour

The Ministry of Labour addresses workplace violence under the Occupational Health and Safety Act.

Inspectors conduct investigations of serious incidents and complaints.

As part of a proactive program of inspection, inspectors also consider violence issues in workplaces where there is a greater risk of violence due to the nature of the workplace.

Everyone should be able to work without fear of violence, in a safe and healthy workplace. Violence in the workplace is not tolerated in Ontario.

What is workplace violence?

It is the attempted or actual exercise of any intentional physical force that causes or may cause physical injury to a worker.

It also includes any threats which give a worker reasonable grounds to believe he or she is at risk of physical injury.

The risk of workplace violence is greater in jobs that involve:

Handling cash
Protecting or securing valuables
Transporting people and goods
A mobile workplace (such as a vehicle)
Public or community contact
Working with unstable or volatile people
Working alone, or with just a few people
Working late nights or very early mornings.

The risk of violence is greater in workplaces that involve:

Health care
Social services
Retail
Hospitality
Financial institutions
Education
Transportation
Police, security and corrections.

Everyone in a workplace has a role to play in ensuring it is a place that is safe, healthy and violence-free.

Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, all employers must take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of their workers in the workplace. This includes protecting them against the risk of workplace violence.

There are many measures that employers can take to prevent violence in the workplace:
- assess the risk of violence;
- put a violence prevention program in place; and
- provide training to employees.
Workers whose physical safety is threatened by violence, in any form, in the workplace should contact the police immediately. A worker should report to his or her employer or supervisor the existence of any situation that has the potential for violence.
Joint health and safety committees can help employers address risk assessment, violence prevention measures and worker education and awareness.

How the Ministry of Labour Can Help

The Ministry of Labour's health and safety inspectors are trained to assess workplace health and safety issues, including whether an employer has:

properly assessed the risk of workplace violence;
implemented appropriate prevention strategies and training; and
addressed workplace violence incidents.

In workplaces where the risk of violence is higher, due to the nature of the work, inspectors proactively check for employer policies and programs to address workplace violence.

The role of the Ministry of Labour is to determine whether the employer is taking every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect workers from workplace violence.

The Ministry will encourage the workplace parties to jointly address the risk and develop violence prevention programs. Where employers do not fulfill their responsibilities, the Ministry will take appropriate action, including issuing orders.