Each province right across Canada has adopted these standards for
the protection of the worker. Each province has specific language
identified in the Provincial Occupational Health and Safety Act and
has developed regulations for implementation into the workplace.
Provincial enforcement, enforces the requirements in all workplaces.
Other laws cover workplaces under federal jurisdiction, in other
provinces, or in other countries. These laws may define workplace
violence differently from the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Some workplaces may wish to explore non-legislative descriptions of
workplace violence that go beyond the definition set out in the
Occupational Health and Safety Act. These descriptions may link
harassment, abusive behaviour, and violence within a continuum
and not see clear distinctions between the behaviours. This view may
be helpful when considering the scope and nature of violence in the
workplace.