Workplaces that have been identified as having an increased risk of violence must have and follow a written Violence Prevention Policy.
Workplace violence includes things like threats, physically intimidating actions such as getting in your face, throwing things, brandishing a weapon, causing physical harm, assaults and sexual assaults.
Saskatchewan Occupational Health & Safety Regulations define workplace violence as the attempted, threatened or actual conduct of a person that causes or is likely to cause injury, and includes any threatening statement or behaviour that gives a worker reasonable cause to believe that the worker is at risk of injury.
In federally regulated workplaces the Canada Occupational Health & Safety Regulations apply. They define workplace violence as any action, conduct, threat or gesture in the workplace that can reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to an employee.
Like harassment, workplace violence can stem from interactions with a co-worker, supervisor or manager, employer, employee, client, customers, patients, students and others.
Workplace violence includes psychological violence through behaviours such as teasing and bullying.
All federally regulated workplaces must have violence prevention policies, not just those identified as having an increased risk for violence.
Workplaces considered to be at added risk for violence, include…
Workplaces with an increased risk of violence must have violence prevention policies in place and employers have obligations to protect workers who are in vulnerable situations.
If workers experience workplace violence or face dangerous working conditions they have rights under occupational health and safety laws.
This site provides general information about workplace sexual harassment only. It is not a substitute for receiving legal advice about your situation. Apply now to receive 4 hours of free legal advice.
The Shift Project is funded by the Department of Justice and delivered by the Public Legal Education Association of Saskatchewan (PLEA).