The Workers Compensation Board (WCB) of Prince Edward Island has introduced changes to the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Act and Regulations on workplace harassment.  

The amendments to the OHS Act and Regulations outline the responsibilities of employers and workers to prevent harassment in the workplace.

 In keeping with legislation in other Canadian jurisdictions, the new regulations:

• Provide a definition of harassment to clarify what is unacceptable behaviour in the workplace.
  
  
• Set out the requirement for all employers to develop a policy to prevent workplace harassment. 

The new regulations will come into effect July 1, 2020.

“The transition to the new requirements will be done over the next nine months, which will provide employers and workers time to become familiar with the regulations and to ensure they are in compliance,” said Stuart Affleck, Chair of Workers Compensation Board of PEI.

Over the coming months, the WCB staff will provide Island wide education to employers and workers about the new requirements, prior to the regulations coming into effect.  Occupational Health and Safety Officers and Education Consultants will be available to visit workplaces and can assist employers and workers, so they can better understand their requirements and responsibilities.  

The new Workplace Harassment Regulations, Order in Council #EC2019-710, will be published in the Royal Gazette this Saturday, October 26, 2019.

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