HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 132 HS - Violence in the Workplace 11 -•
OTTAWA-CARLETON
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
POLICY P 132 HS
TITLE: VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE
Date Authorized: 08 June 2010
Last Revised: 31 January 2023 (Tier 1 Minor Housekeeping Edits)
Last Reviewed 17 December 2025
COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EQUITY
The District recognizes its responsibility to ensure that this policy and associated procedures promote
and protect Indigenous rights, human rights, and equity. The District will strive to address and
eliminate discrimination and structural and systemic barriers for students, staff, and community.
1.0 RATIONALE
To provide a workplace in which all Ottawa-Carleton District School Board employees are
provided with a violence free environment and to prevent workplace violence and promote a
violence free working and learning environment for all Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
employees as stipulated by the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Please refer to Appendix A for a list of definitions of terms used in this policy.
3.0 POLICY
3.1 The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (the District) is committed to the prevention
of workplace violence and promoting a violence-free workplace in which all people
respect one another and work together to achieve common goals. Any act of workplace
violence is unacceptable conduct. Workplace violence in any form erodes the mutual
trust and confidence that are essential to the well-being of our staff.
3.2 This policy applies to all work activities that occur while on District premises, or while
engaging in workplace activities or workplace social events.
3.3 Workplace violence will not be tolerated from anyone with whom District employees
may interact in the course of their employment.
3.4 The District is committed to taking all precautions reasonable to protect employees
where it becomes aware, or ought to be aware that domestic violence that would likely
expose a worker to physical injury may occur in the workplace.
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3.5 The District is committed to develop and maintain a program to implement this policy
with respect to workplace violence, and to meeting the requirements of the
Occupational Health and Safety Act.
4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
4.1 The District is required to ensure that a copy of this policy is posted in a conspicuous
place in all workplaces, including all schools and administrative buildings.
4.2 The Director of Education is responsible for ensuring that all employees are made
aware of:
a) the existence of this policy and the issues addressed herein;
b) the existence of supporting procedures issued under this policy; and
c) identified potential or actual risks of violence and measures available to prevent
and respond to such risks.
4.3 The Director of Education is authorized to issue such procedures as may be necessary
to implement and support this policy, which shall include, without limitations, procedures
regarding:
a) the conduct of assessments (and re-assessments) of the risks of workplace
violence and measures to control such risks;
b) reporting mechanisms and other measures available to prevent and respond to
violent incidents;
c) measures available to protect workers from domestic violence; and
d) the duty to provide information, including personal information, related to a risk
of workplace violence.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A: Policy Definitions
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S.O. 1990 (as amended)
Board Policy P 058 HS - Occupational Health and Safety
Board Policy P 032 SCO - Safe Schools (Managing Student Behaviour)
Board Policy P 009 HR - Respectful Workplace (Harassment Prevention)
Board Policy P 125 SCO — School District Code of Conduct
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APPENDIX A: POLICY DEFINITIONS
In this policy,
Board means the Board of Trustees.
District means to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Workplace means the site where the individual is customarily employed and includes all other places
which result from employment responsibilities or employment relationships, including Board or
committee meetings, locations at work-related social functions, work assignments outside the site,
field trips, work-related conferences or training sessions, and work-related travel.
Workplace Violence means:
a) the exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that
causes or could cause physical injury to the worker;
b) an attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could
cause physical injury to a worker; and/or
c) a statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to
exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical
injury to a worker (Occupational Health and Safety Act R.S.O. 1990 ).
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