08-11 Workplace Violence Flashcards
What is the Rationale?
The Toronto Police Services Board (Board) and the Toronto Police Service (Service) are committed to providing all its members with a workplace that is safe. The Occupational Health & Safety Act (OHSA) legislates that workers are provided a safe workplace. This procedure outlines for members what constitutes workplace violence and the process for reporting workplace violence. Members reporting workplace violence, including intimate partner violence, are protected from reprisal.
What is the Supervision?
- Supervisory Officer attendance mandatory for any incident of workplace violence
- Supervisory Officer, Officer in Charge and Unit Commander notification mandatory for any incident of workplace violence
Procedure
The OHSA requires the employer to assess the risk of workplace violence that may arise from the nature of the workplace, the type of work or the conditions of work. The assessment SHALL take into account
- circumstances that would be common to similar workplaces
- circumstances specific to the workplace, and
- any other prescribed element.
Member
- When workplace violence occurs SHALL immediately summon assistance by
- pressing the alarm, if available
- calling 9-1-1, if appropriate
- When calling from a Service phone, SHALL press 9 first, to connect to a landline, and then dial 9-1-1 to summon assistance or medical help.
Member
- Upon becoming aware of any workplace violence or threat of workplace violence, including intimate partner violence, which could place themselves or another member at risk of physical injury in the workplace immediately
report the particulars to a supervisor
Member
- When involved in an incident where the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) mandate may be invoked SHALL
comply with Procedures
Member
- Members SHALL not harass, intimidate or retaliate against any member who reports workplace violence and comply with Procedures
- Every member has the right to protection from workplace violence without reprisal or fear of reprisal. A complaint of workplace violence that is vexatious or malicious in nature may result in discipline.
Supervisor
- Upon becoming aware of, or ought reasonably to be aware of
* workplace violence or threat of workplace violence, including intimate partner violence
* violence which may occur in the workplace, and would likely expose any member to physical injury
SHALL
- take every reasonable precaution necessary for the protection of the members
- maintain confidentiality
- report any incident of workplace violence to the Officer in Charge
- commence an investigation
- speak to the member initiating the complaint in private
- when gathering evidence comply with Procedures
- when there is an intimate partner violence incident comply with Procedures
- when injuries are sustained in the workplace by a member provide medical assistance
- if an arrest is made, comply with Procedures
- when involved in an incident where the SIU mandate may be invoked comply with Procedures
- investigate all situations of work refusal, if required
- A police officer cannot refuse to work when the work is a normal condition of the worker’s employment or when the refusal to work would directly endanger the life, health or safety of another person.
- take every reasonable precaution necessary for the protection of the member
- protect any complainant or witness from reprisal
Supervisor
- When the source of the workplace violence is external to the Service SHALL
- ensure the applicable eReports are completed prior to the completion of the tour of duty, if applicable
Officer in Charge / Designate
- The Officer in Charge SHALL ensure
- members are made aware of how to immediately summon assistance if workplace violence occurs
- any complainant or witness is protected from reprisal
- the workplace is not toxic or poisoned
Officer in Charge / Designate
- Upon becoming aware of, or ought reasonably to be aware of
- workplace violence or threat of workplace violence, including intimate partner violence
- violence which may occur in the workplace, and would likely expose any member to physical injury
SHALL
- take every reasonable precaution necessary for the protection of the members
Officer in Charge / Designate
- When the source of the workplace violence is external to the Service SHALL
- ensure the applicable eReports are completed prior to the completion of the tour of duty
- ensure the applicable eReport numbers are provided to the involved member’s Unit Commander and the Unit Commander – Professional Standards prior to the completion of the tour of duty
Officer in Charge / Designate
- When notified of a member refusing to work as a result of a workplace violence incident SHALL
- ensure the member remains available and in a safe place for the purposes of an investigation, if applicable
Officer in Charge / Designate
- Upon becoming aware of, or ought reasonably to be aware of, violence which may occur in the workplace, and would likely expose a member to physical injury, SHALL
take every reasonable precaution necessary for the protection of the member.
- Reasonable precaution necessary for the protection of the member may include the re–assignment to reasonable alternative duties.
Unit Commander / Designate
- The Unit Commander SHALL ensure
- all reasonable precautions necessary are taken for the protection of the member
- members are made aware of how to immediately summon assistance if workplace violence occurs
- the results of the workplace assessment are posted in a conspicuous place within the workplace
- The assessment SHALL take into account circumstances that would be common to similar workplaces and circumstances specific to the workplace, and any other prescribed element.
- any complainant or witness is protected from reprisal
- the workplace is not toxic or poisoned
Unit Commander / Designate
- The Unit Commander SHALL ensure all members under their command are made aware of any risk of workplace violence from a person with a history of violent behaviour if
- their members can be expected to encounter that person in the course of their work
- the risk of workplace violence is likely to expose the worker to physical injury
- There is a duty to include personal information in this notification. However, no more personal information SHALL be disclosed than is reasonably necessary to protect the workers from physical injury.
Unit Commander / Designate
- The Unit Commander SHALL ensure a TPS 649 form assessing the risk of workplace violence that may arise from the
- nature of the workplace, or
- type of work, or
- conditions of work
- has been completed as often as is necessary to continue to protect the members under their command from workplace violence
- is placed in the unit file
a copy is provided to the Local Health and Safety Committee and the Unit Commander – Wellness
- Upon becoming aware of a work refusal situation SHALL consult with the Unit Commander – Wellness.
Definitions 08-11
Workplace means
means any land, premises, location or thing at, upon, in or near, which Service business is being conducted. This can include, but is not limited to:
* Service facilities / buildings / Service vehicles
* courthouses
* any other location where Service business is being conducted.
Workplace Violence means
the exercise of physical force, or attempt, by a person against a worker in a workplace that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker. This includes a statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for the worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker.
