January 31, 2008

Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) is seeking input on a proposed regulation aimed at preventing and responding to incidents of work place violence.

According to a December 2007 HRSDC Liason Bulletin, "The impetus for this new Regulation is a provision in the Canada Labour Code requiring federally regulated employers to take the prescribed steps to prevent and protect against violence in the work place." The proposed Violence Prevention in the Work Place regulation outlines these prescribed steps including employer requirements to identify, assess and eliminate potential risks for violence.

The regulation also calls for employers to:

• develop a workplace violence prevention policy,
• review this policy when situations change or at least every three years,
• develop emergency notification procedures in response to violence, and
• provide training to workers.

Employers will also be required to carry out their obligations "in consultation with and the participation of" the workplace policy committee, or, if one doesn't exist, the work place committee or health and safety representative.

The proposed regulation considers work place violence as "any action, conduct, threat or gesture of a person towards an employee in their work place that can reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to that employee."

Parties interested in submitting written comments concerning these proposed regulations must do so within 75 days from the December 15, 2007 publication notice in Canada Gazette, Part I.

Want to read more about the proposed federal violence regulations and the process for submitting public comment?