VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE

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1 VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE 2010 Parks and Recreation Ontario Conference Niagara Falls, Ontario PRESENTERS Matt Bentley, Manager of Standards and Innovation Anne Jackson, Manager of Aquatics Steve Hart, Supervisor of Security Robert Gautreau, Manager of Human Resources 1

2 OBJECTIVES To share the City of Toronto s experience in responding to a critical incident involving a recreation staff and the subsequent Ministry of Labour orders To give an overview on Bill 168 (violence in the workplace) To provide recommendations to other municipalities on how to improve the safety and security of staff and participants. SNAPSHOT OF TORONTO 2.48 million people 7 Former Municipalities 73 Distinct (named) Neighbourhoods Over 300 gang related deaths between 1997 and 2005 Ranked 29 th most dangerous city in Canada (overall crime score) Other Ontario municipalities include Thunder Bay (14 th ),Brantford (17 th ) and Hamilton (26th). Source - Macleans/Statscan (2007 data). 2

3 PARKS, FORESTRY & RECREATION DIVISION (PFR) WORKPLACES 134 Community Centres 122 indoor and outdoor pools 110 staffed wading pools 1,473 named parks 854 playgrounds 736 sports fields 48 city owned arenas 5 full service golf clubs 5 fully operational ferry boats 1 campground 2 ski hills RECREATION BRANCH 4.1 million annual drop-in visits 4.3 million annual registered program visits million annual permit participant visits 703 full-time 9,000 part time staff. 3

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6 CHARACTERISTICS OF HIGH RISK JOBS (source Canadian Government Centre for Occupational Health and Safety) Work- related factors increasing the risk of violence: Working with the public Handling money, valuables or prescription drugs Carrying out inspection or enforcement duties (e.g. government employees) Providing service, care, advice or education. Work- related factors increasing the risk of violence (continued) Working with unstable or volatile persons (e.g. social services) Working in premises where alcohol is served Working alone, in small numbers or in isolated areas Having a mobile workplace Working during periods of intense organizational change (e.g. strikes or downsizing). 6

7 Work- related factors increasing the risk of violence (continued) Working near buildings or businesses that are at risk of violent crime (e.g. historically violent buildings, bars, banks) Working in areas isolated from other buildings or structures (e.g. a park). ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS Corporate Security Human Resources Health and Safety Unit Contracted Counselling Services (employee assistance program) Crisis Response (provided by Public Health) Emergency On-Call (Recreation Supervisors) 7

8 HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAMS IN PFR Divisional H & S Coordinating Committee (high level) Divisional H & S Resources JH&SC committees by branch and areas. EXISTING RELEVANT POLICES AND/OR PROCEDURES Workplace Violence Policy (corporate) Cash handling Procedures Facility Emergency Response Plan Facility Emergency Evacuation Procedures Suspension, Ban and Trespass Policy Anti-Bullying Policy Bomb threat Policy Police Reference Check Staffing Policy Code of Conduct Policy Lockdown procedures Minor injury/incident Policy Responding to Robberies Policy 8

9 EXISTING WORKPLACE TRAINING Workplace specific orientation Supervisor Health & Safety Competency training Harassment free workplace training Crisis management training Emergency or Standard First Aid/CPR CHALLENGES OF MANAGING VIOLENCE IN RECREATION WORKPLACES Understanding scope of the Workplace Violence Policy Culture of work Non- reporting of threat Tracking Analysis 9

10 April 6, 2004 Ottawa Transit Garage A former Ottawa transit (OC Transpo) employee pulled into transit garage and went on a shooting rampage. Pierre Lebrun encountered a dozen people. He shot six, four fatally. Then he shot himself. He left a suicide note which showed he was upset with interactions at work. Lebrun had a history of mental health problems but no history of violence. Anytime Anywhere- Hockey Arena Boston, A 42 year-old father with no criminal record, assaulted a 40 year-old man who was monitoring the play of youth hockey game. After being ordered out by the rink manager, Mr. Juanta returned and slammed Mr. Costin to the ground killing him. London, ON, A video of a man attacking a linesman at a midget AA 15-year-olds game was posted on YouTube. Hockey leagues and arena managements are developing Behaviour Codes requiring signature for participation. E.g. Crookston Park& Recreation and B.C. 10

11 August 2009 Outdoor Pool - Toronto 21 year old lifeguard leaving pool after shift (7:00 pm) on bicycle at conclusion of his shift. Approached by 4 youths he previously encountered while on duty. They exchanged words outside changeroom building. Held down and beaten. Wallet and bicycle stolen. Treated by lifeguards and paramedics. CRITICAL INCIDENT CITY OF TORONTO 2008 Shooting incident at a Parks, Forestry and Recreation facility Crisis response, counselling provided to staff Pay-duty Police Officers posted at location Increased Supervision External Improvements Ministry of Labour Orders 11

12 MINISTRY OF LABOUR ORDERS The employer shall, in consultation with the workers, local Joint Health and Safety committee and applicable unions, undertake a comprehensive security audit of the workplace. The Audit shall include but not limited to the following: worker training, worker supervision, procedures, protocols, systems, programming, physical environment, communication and risk. MINISTRY OF LABOUR ORDERS The employer shall, in consultation with the JHSC (Joint Health and Safety Committee) of the Parks, Forestry and Recreation Facilities and applicable union executives, develop a plan for assessing the level of risk of all its PFR workplaces by conducting a comprehensive review of the violence risk controls and identifying where controls need to be improved. 12

13 WORKPLACE REVIEW Work team established Work plan created and submitted to the Ministry of Labour. AREAS OF FOCUS Training Safe Operating Procedures Functional Work Assessments Workplace Violence Inspections/Employee Risk Assessments Incident Reporting Threat Management Final Recommendations. 13

14 TRAINING Inventory of existing training Identified training requirements for work locations and job functions. SAFE OPERATING PROCEDURES Identified the need for written Safe Operating Procedures to improve safety. Examples include facility opening and closing procedures and functional jobs (community outreach). 14

15 FUNCTIONAL WORK ASSESSMENTS High risk jobs identified and assessed. Training requirements identified. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE INSPECTIONS/ EMPLOYEE RISK ASSESSMENT Assessment template created. Initial assessment completed to identify high risk locations. Assessments to be completed annually. 15

16 INCIDENT REPORTING Review of incident reporting systems Violence and threat report process designed. THREAT MANAGEMENT (Security Assessment) Threat management process designed to assess threats in the workplace. Development of a threat management team. 16

17 THREAT ASSESSMENT Overview/Objective Methodology Demographics RESEARCH Past Occurrences Statistics CAP Index Report Liability 17

18 RECOMMENDATIONS Risk Mitigation Training Physical Enhancements Operational Enhancements CPTED Principles 18

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21 BILL 168 Defines workplace violence and workplace harassment Workplace violence and harassment policies: Review as often as necessary, but at least annually Written form Posted in conspicuous place in workplace RISK ASSESSMENT Arising from the nature of the workplace, type of work or conditions of work. Circumstances common to similar workplaces Circumstances specific to the workplace Employer to advise JHSC or OHS rep of the results of the assessment and provide copy in writing Reassess as often as is necessary to continue to protect 21

22 VIOLENCE PROGRAM Measures and procedures to control risks identified during required risk assessments as likely to expose a worker to physical injury Measures and procedures for summoning immediate assistance when workplace violence occurs or is likely to occur Measures and procedures for reporting incidents of violence How employer will investigate and deal with incident or complaints. INFORMATION/INSTRUCTION OF WORKERS Information, including personal information, related to a risk of workplace violence from a person with the history of violent behaviour, if worker can be expected to encounter the person in performance of work For privacy reasons, only provide necessary information. The Province of Ontario has released guidelines on workplace violence and harassment. 22

23 RECOMMENDATIONS 1. Ensure workplace violence policy is created and implemented. 2. Risk assessments for all work locations 3. Identify and assess functional jobs 4. Incident reporting. 5. Safe Operating Procedures 6. Workplace violence training. THANK YOU! QUESTIONS??? For more information Matt Bentley, Manager of Standards and Innovation Anne Jackson, Manager of Aquatics Steve Hart, Supervisor of Security Robert Gautreau, Manager of Human Resources 23

Making Our Schools and Workplaces Safe

Making Our Schools and Workplaces Safe ETFO s call to action and strategy to address violence in school board workplaces involves many stakeholders and it starts with collaboration, training and accountability.