Workplace Violence and Harassment: Build a real program, train your team, and stay compliant

Workplace violence and harassment are not just HR issues. They are safety risks that affect retention, productivity, and legal exposure. This issue gives you a practical blueprint to build or tighten your program, train people fast, and document what matters for audits and client prequalification.

What your program should include

Use this checklist to pressure test your current approach and close gaps quickly:

• A written policy that defines violence and harassment, assigns roles, and states zero tolerance

• A procedure for reporting, response, and investigation with confidentiality safeguards

• A risk assessment that looks at job tasks, locations, client sites, public-facing work, and lone work

• Prevention controls by role, including training, supervision, physical controls, and communication

• Support measures for affected workers and a clear escalation route

• Annual review with metrics from incidents, near misses, and survey results

How to run a credible investigation

1. Receive the report and protect confidentiality.

2. Separate parties if needed and address the immediate risk.

3. Assign an impartial investigator with clear terms of reference.

4. Collect evidence and interview in a structured, trauma-informed way.

5. Analyze findings against policy and law, not personalities.

6. Communicate outcomes and implement corrective actions.

7. Offer support resources and monitor for retaliation. Document every step. Use an investigation checklist, decision matrix, and corrective action log to keep the file clean.

Day-one and week-one training picks

Assign these immediately for new hires and supervisors. Each is online, self-paced, and produces a certificate.

• Violence and Harassment in the Workplace

• Safety Committees and Representatives

• Due Diligence for Supervisors

• Canada Labour Code Part II – OHS

• Optional reinforcement for culture and conduct: Ethics and Code of Conduct and Conflict Resolution Series

Need to enroll a crew fast? Spin up a free corporate portal and assign by role: Free Group Training Account.

Editable documents and RAVS you can deploy today

Standardize expectations and prove compliance with audit-ready templates:

• Program and policy templates by province 

• Field reinforcement tools: Violence and Harassment Prevention – Toolbox Talk

• Need something specific or multi-site: Customized ISNet RAVS or broader Contractor Management support

• Here is a LINK to all the Violence and Harassment products we have available 

Stay current: recent changes to know

• Alberta updated OHS Code Part 27 on violence and harassment in December 2024, with changes focused on simplifying and clarifying employer duties, including confidentiality procedures. Review Alberta’s official change highlights and Ministerial Order 2024-12. ohs-pubstore.labour.alberta.ca

• Saskatchewan now requires every provincially regulated workplace to have a violence policy and prevention plan. This took effect May 17, 2024. Government of Saskatchewanhcsas.sk.caohscanada.com

• Ontario passed the Working for Workers Five Act, 2024 (Bill 190). It expands OHSA harassment definitions to include virtual misconduct and clarifies coverage for remote work and digital postings. Royal Assent was October 28, 2024, with changes taking effect through 2025. Legislative Assembly of Ontario

• British Columbia continues to enforce bullying and harassment requirements under WorkSafeBC policy. See the regulator’s overview and FAQs for employer duties and worker rights. WorkSafeBC+1

Implementation roadmap

• This week: confirm your written policy, post reporting options, and run a quick risk scan on high-interaction roles and lone work.

• This month: train supervisors on response and investigations, assign the Violence and Harassment eLearning, and schedule toolbox talks.

• This quarter: run a program review, test your reporting and investigation process with a tabletop exercise, and audit records for completeness.

How On-Track can help

• Policy and RAVS: choose a province-ready template or request a custom policy package with investigator tools and forms. See RAVS Bundles or Customized ISNet RAVS.

• Training at scale: set up your Free Group Training Account, assign courses by role, and automate reminders.

• Contractor portals: if you are targeting ISNetworld or similar systems, our Contractor Management team can align documentation and monitor grades.

Copy-ready file list for your program binder

• Workplace Violence and Harassment Policy

• Reporting and Investigation Procedure

• Risk Assessment Form

• Incident Report Form and Witness Statement Form

• Support Resources Sheet

• Investigation Plan, Interview Guides, and Findings Report Template

• Corrective Action Log and Follow-up Plan

• Annual Review Checklist

Start with the policy and core training, then layer in risk controls and investigation competency. Shop the editable templates in our RAVS Bundles, enroll your team through the Free Group Training Account, and add the Violence and Harassment course to your day-one checklist.