Providing Health Safety Training in Toronto, Act First Safety Supports Workplace Violence Prevention

Toronto, Canada, October 21, 2009 --(PR.com)-- Act First Safety re-declared its firm support in keeping all Ontario workers safe from workplace harm, physical or otherwise. The safety training company and workplace safety advocate is kept a keen eye on the legal amendments to the existing occupational health and safety laws. While the Ontario legislature debated Bill 168 on Tuesday, October 20 at 3 pm at Queen’s Park on workplace violence and harassment amending the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA), Act First Safety announced that they will be in support of an encompassing law that protects the health and safety of anyone in the workplace regardless of employment status.

Bill 168 is loosely based on private member Bill 29, but ignores some of the strong elements including psychological harm and protection of non-workers like visitors and contractors in the workplace. It largely focuses on policy-making, applies contentious aspects like violent history and domestic violence without support of realistic definitions and roles and responsibilities for employers. Although, most applaud potential legislation to protect Ontario workers against violence-related hazards further discussion is required.

For several years, Act First Safety has provided workplace violence prevention training to assist employers in support of violence- and harassment-free workplaces. The company’s internationally recognized program includes the prevention and de-escalation of negative, challenging, hostile and potentially violent behaviours. They encourage employee awareness of escalating situations, which includes attention to nonverbal cues, the manner in which we use the words we choose, management of power struggles, and appropriate limit setting.

The program philosophy sets the tone for employees to maintain professionalism at all times. The training enables the personalization of intervention strategies based on the distinct behaviours exhibited and where they fall within a continuum from discourtesy to physical aggression.

An Act First Safety spokesperson said, "It is likely that some version of Bill 168 will pass into law in the near future. During that time, Act First Safety encourages employers to develop or review policies and procedures that will address violence and harassment in the workplace to be well-positioned to implement the changes that may be required under Bill 168."

For more information, visit www.ActFirstSafety.com.

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