Health and Safety A-Z
Topic: Violence
Summary:
The Ministry of Labour describes workplace violence as:
The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker. It also includes any attempt to exercise physical force against a worker in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker; and a statement or behaviour that a worker could reasonably interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker
Examples of workplace violence include:
- verbally threatening to attack a worker
- leaving threatening notes at or sending threatening e-mails to a workplace
- shaking a fist in a worker’s face
- wielding a weapon at work
- hitting or trying to hit a worker
- throwing an object at a worker
Trent University is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment and will take all reasonable steps to protect members of the community from campus violence.
The University’s Violence and Harassment policy can be found in the University’s policy library
Under this policy, all employees are required to complete Workplace Violence and Harassment training, which can be completed on Blackboard (available on myTrent). University supervisors and managers are responsible for maintaining a workplace that is free of violence and harassment. Any concerns of violence should immediately be brought to the attention of the Director of Risk Management. In the event of an imminent threat, Campus Security and/or Peterborough Police should be contacted, as appropriate to the situation.
For Information See:
Workplace Violence and Harassment, Understanding the Law, Ministry of Labour
Occupational Health and Safety Act, Part III.0.1 Violence and Harassment
Additional Resources:
Violence in the Workplace Prevention Guide, CCOHS
Trent University No Tolerance/Abusive or Threatening Behaviour Sign
Last Revised: March 12, 2025