Violence in the Workplace

Last Updated: March 2024

Prepared by CCOHS

Listed below are sections of legislation which refer to violence in the workplace. Most Canadian jurisdictions have a "general duty provision" in their Occupational Health & Safety legislation which requires employers to take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of employees. More information on this topic is available in the OSH Answers document OH&S Legislation - Due Diligence This provision would include protecting employees from a known risk of workplace violence.

Many jurisdictions have legislation, about working alone, which also covers acts of violence. Please see the quick reference document Working Alone for more details.

Since legislation is amended from time to time, it should be reviewed for the most current information. Enforcement and interpretation of any legislation or codes may vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. Canadian Governmental Occupational Health & Safety Departments http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html) should be contacted for information on how the laws are enforced.

This list is prepared by CCOHS as part of the Canadian enviroOSH Legislation service This service is a comprehensive and easy to search compilation of the full text of Canadian health, safety and environmental legislation and critical guidelines and codes of practice from all jurisdictions. All the legislation is compiled into one convenient location and is regularly updated with amendments highlighted.

Subscribers to this service and paid learners of the CCOHS e-courses have access to the full text of the legislation listed in this document. To become a subscriber please contact Client Services

Canada

Canada Labour Code, Part II (R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2)

Part II Occupational Health and Safety

Section 122.1 Prevention of accidents, injuries and illnesses

Duties of Employers

Section 124 General duty of employer

Section 125 Specific duties of employer, subsections 125(z.16) - (z.163)

Section 127.1 Complaint to supervisor

Policy Health and Safety Committees

Section 134.1 Establishment mandatory

Work Place Health and Safety Committees

Section 135 Establishment mandatory

Section 135.11 Information likely to reveal identity

Health and Safety Representatives

Section 136 Appointment of health and safety representative

Section 136.1 Information likely to reveal identity

Work Place Harassment and Violence Prevention Regulations (SOR/2020-130)

Alberta

As made under Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.A. 2020, c. O-2.2),

Occupational Health and Safety Code (Alta. Reg. 191/2021)

Part 27 Violence and Harassment

British Columbia

As made under the Workers Compensation Act (R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 492),

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation (B.C. Reg. 296/97)

Part 3 Rights and Responsibilities

Section 3.23 Young or new worker orientation and training

Part 4 General Conditions

Working Alone or in Isolation

Section 4.22.1 Late night retail safety procedures and requirements

Section 4.23 Annual reviews of procedures

Workplace Conduct

Section 4.24 Definition

Section 4.25 Prohibition

Section 4.26 Investigation

Violence in the Workplace

Section 4.27 Definition

Section 4.28 Risk assessment

Section 4.29 Procedures and policies

Section 4.30 Instruction of workers

Section 4.31 Advice to consult physician

Take Care: How to Develop and Implement a Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Manitoba

As made under the Workplace Safety and Health Act (C.C.S.M. c. W210),

Workplace Safety and Health Regulation (Man. Reg. 217/2006)

Part 9 Working Alone or in Isolation

Part 10 Harassment

Part 11 Violence in the Workplace

Preventing Harassment in the Workplace Guide (Rev. 2015)

Preventing Violence in the Workplace Guide (Rev. 2016)

New Brunswick

As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2),

General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act (N.B. Reg. 91-191)

Part XXII.I Violence and Harassment

Newfoundland and Labrador

As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.N.L. 1990, c. O-3),

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012 (N.L.R. 5/12)

Part III General Duties

Section 22 Interpretation

Section 22.1 Risk assessment

Section 23 Violence prevention

Section 24 Instruction to workers

Section 24.1 Harassment prevention plan

Section 24.2 Training

As made under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Atlantic Accord Implementation Act (S.C. 1987, c. 3),

Offshore Area Occupational Health and Safety Regulations N.L.R. 79/21

Part VII Employee Well-Being

Section 42 Workplace violence and harassment

Section 43 Disruptive behaviour

Northwest Territories

As made under the Safety Act (R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1),

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-039-2015)

Section 34 Harassment

Section 35 Violence

Section 36 Late night premises

Hazard Assessment Code of Practice (Effective Mar. 31, 2017)

Working Alone Code of Practice (Effective Sept. 30, 2016)

Nova Scotia

As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (S.N.S. 1996, c. 7),

Violence in the Workplace Regulations (N.S. Reg. 209/2007)

Occupational Health and Safety and Smoke Free Places Posting Requirements

A Guide to the Violence in the Workplace Regulations for the Retail Gas Industry

, A Guide to the Violence in the Workplace Regulations for the Taxi Industry

A Guide to the Violence in the Workplace Regulations for Convenience and Small Retail Stores

Guide to Preventing Violence Robbery and Theft

Nunavut

As made under the Safety Act (R.S.N.W.T. (Nu) 1988, c. S-1),

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations (R-003-2016)

Section 34 Harassment

Section 35 Violence

Section 36 Late night premises

Hazard Assessment Code of Practice (Effective Mar. 31, 2017)

Working Alone Code of Practice (Effective Sept. 30, 2016)

Ontario

Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1)

Part III.0.1 Violence and Harassment

Part V Right to Refuse or to Stop Work Where Health or Safety in Danger

Section 43 Application

Part VII Notices

Section 52 Notice of accident, explosion or fire causing injury

Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment (August 19, 2021)

Guide to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (June 29, 2022)

Workplace Violence and Harassment: Understanding the Law (Revised September 2016)

Prince Edward Island

As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. O-1.01),

Occupational Health and Safety Act General Regulations (EC180/87)

Part 52 Violence in the Workplace

Workplace Harassment Regulation (EC710/19)

Guide to the Prevention of Workplace Violence (2018)

Guide to Workplace Harassment Regulations

Quebec

Act respecting labour standards (CQLR c. N-1.1)

Chapter IV Labour Standards

Division V.2 Psychological Harassment

Chapter V Recourses

Division II.1 Recourse Against Psychological Harassment

Act Respecting Occupational Health and Safety (CQLR c. S-2.1)

Part III Rights and Obligations

Division II The Employer

2. General obligations

Section 51

See also:

Bill 42, An Act to prevent and fight psychological harassment and sexual violence in the workplace (43rd Legislature, 1st Session)

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Employment Act (S.S. 2013, c. S-15.1)

Division 3 Duties

Section 3-8 General duties of employer

Section 3-9 General duties of supervisors

Section 3-10 General duties of workers

Section 3-21 Duty re policy statement on violence and prevention plan

Section 3-21.1 Duty re policy on harassment and duty to investigate

Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2020 (c. S-15.1 R.10)

Part 3 General Duties

Section 3-24 Working alone or at isolated place of employment

Section 3-25 Harassment

Section 3-26 Violence

Section 3-27 Safety measures - retail premises

Violence Prevention: An employer’s guide for developing a violence policy statement and prevention plan (2023)

Yukon

As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act (R.S.Y. 2002, c. 159),

Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (O.I.C. 2006/178)

Part 19 Violence and Harassment Prevention

Workplace Violence and Harassment Prevention Guide

OSH Answers on Violence in the Workplace

Bullying in the Workplace

Internet Harassment or Cyberbullying

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Dealing with Negative Interactions

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Family (Domestic) Violence

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Legislation

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Parking Lot Safety

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Warning Signs

Violence and Harassment in the Workplace - Working Late

Podcasts - Health and Safety To Go!

Bullying in the Workplace: 6 Tips for Prevention

Domestic Violence - A Workplace Issue

Glenn French: Workplace Violence

Harassment in the Workplace

Harassment in the Workplace Recognizing and Preventing Workplace Harassment and Violence

Understanding Canada's New Federal Harassment and Violence Legislation

Workplace Violence: Identifying the Problem

Workplace Violence: Taking Action