Workplace harassment and violence prevention program

A workplace harassment and violence prevention program is the working procedure behind the written policies that Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act requires. A buyer checking mandatory written policies on closing meets it as a document the new owner must keep current.

What the Act requires

An employer shall prepare a policy on workplace violence and a policy on workplace harassment and review them as often as is necessary, but at least annually (s. 32.0.1); the written-form and posting rule in s. 32.0.1(2) has an exception in s. 32.0.1(3) for small workplaces unless an inspector orders otherwise. The employer must develop and maintain a program to implement each policy (ss. 32.0.2 and 32.0.6). The harassment program must be written and developed in consultation with the committee or health and safety representative, if any (s. 32.0.6). It must include measures for workers to report incidents and set out how complaints are investigated. Under s. 32.0.7, the employer must review it as often as necessary, but at least annually.

What to ask the seller

• Copies of both policies and both programs, with their review dates.
• Records of any investigations and their results.
• Whether any inspector’s order about an investigation was issued.

These belong with the employment red flags a buyer can check before closing.