Sector summary

This subsector of government is made up of provincial and municipal police services. Police personnel include but are not limited to first responders, specialized units, dispatchers and civilian staff.

The Ontario Police Health and Safety Committee, appointed by the Minister of Labour under section 21 of the Occupational health and safety Act (OHSA), develops guidance on the application of the OHSA and its regulations to police services.

The Ontario Police Health and Safety Committee is made up of professionals in police services from across the province with representatives from the Police Association of Ontario, Ontario Provincial Police, Ontario Provincial Police Association, Toronto Police service, Toronto Police Association, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police, Ontario Association of Police services Boards, Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services, Ontario Police College, Ontario Police Health and Safety Association, Ontario Senior Officers’ Police Association and Public services health and safety association. 

Key hazards

The following list represents hazards to which workers are commonly exposed in the police sector:

  • slips, trips and falls
  • workplace violence and harassment
  • activities or conditions that lead to Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) (i.e. prolonged sitting and use of a computer terminal in a vehicle, weight of duty belts)
  • noise
  • motor vehicle incidents (collisions or being struck by a vehicle)
  • exposures (to infectious agents and chemical hazards).

In general, hazards that are not covered by a regulation and hazards in workplaces not covered by a sector-specific regulation are addressed through the application of the general duty clause 25(2)(h) of the Occupational health and safety Act (OHSA).

Workplace parties are to refer to the narrative portion of the field visit report, if they have received one for further information or contact their health and safety association for guidance.

Slips, trips and falls

Slips, trips and falls hazards include hazards that result in workers falling onto the same surface or falling from a height.

Injuries to workers can include fractures, lacerations and loss of consciousness. In extreme circumstances injuries caused from a fall can lead to permanent disability or death.

The Regulation for Industrial Establishments (Regulation 851) applies to industrial establishments (such as an office building, factory, arena, shop or office or any land, buildings and structures pertaining thereto) and sets out a number of requirements for worker protection against slips, trips and falls, including but not limited to sections 11, 13, 14, 15, 73 and 85.

  • Floors and other surfaces used by workers must be free of obstructions, hazards, accumulations of ice and snow and not have a slippery surface [section 11].
  • Review requirements for guardrails to protect from falls [sections 13 and 14].
  • Review fall protection equipment required when working from heights [section 85].
  • Ensure that training is provided to a worker on the use of protective clothing and equipment (i.e. fall arrest equipment [section 79]).
  • In areas requiring ladder use, review compliance with section 73.
  • Employers must provide information, instruction and supervision to protect workers from slips, trips and falls and acquaint workers with the hazards [OHSA clauses 25(2)(a) and 25(2)(d)].

Workplace violence and workplace harassment

The OHSA sets out requirements for workplace violence and harassment in sections 32.0.1 to 32.0.8.

  • Ensure that appropriate workplace violence and harassment policies have been established in accordance with the OHSA [section 32.0.1].
  • Conduct a workplace violence risk assessment or re-assessment [section 32.0.3].
  • Ensure that workplace violence and workplace harassment programs are developed and maintained to implement the policies [sections 32.0.2 and 32.0.6].
  • Ensure that workers have received information and instruction on the workplace violence and harassment policy and program [sections 32.0.5 and 32.0.7].
  • Subject to some conditions, the employer must provide information to a worker related to the risk of workplace violence from a person with a history of violent behaviour [subsection 32.0.5(3)].
  • Employers may wish to consider the use of the ministry’s Code of Practice to Address Workplace Harassment under the Occupational health and safety Act.

Further information regarding the requirements related to workplace violence can be found in the Ministry of Labour (MOL) guide Workplace violence and harassment: Understanding the law.

Additional information, including more information about new workplace harassment provisions, can be found on the MOL topic webpages for Workplace Violence and Workplace Harassment.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs)

Workplace pains and strains can be serious and disabling for workers, causing pain and suffering ranging from discomfort to severe disability.

MSD is not a medical diagnosis; it is an umbrella term for a group of injuries. Some of these injuries include: back pain, muscle strain, tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow and shoulder pain.

  • Identify and assess job-related MSD risk factors (i.e. prolonged sitting in vehicles, use of mobile data terminals in vehicles, weight and design of duty belts and location of items worn on the duty belt).
  • Review training on job-specific MSD risk factors.
  • Assess controls to reduce worker exposure to MSDs.
  • Contact your health and safety association for guidance in assessments and prevention of MSDs.

Noise

Injuries to workers can include varying degrees of noise-induced hearing loss.

The Noise Regulation O. Reg. 381/15 sets out workplace requirements regarding noise.

  • Review the engineering controls and administrative (work practices) controls in place to reduce noise levels and exposures [subsection 2(2)].
  • Review the availability and use of hearing protection [subsection 2(6)].
  • Review the type of hearing protection provided [subsection 4(1)].
  • Review placement of warning signs at approaches to noisy areas [subsection 2(7)].
  • Review the training provided to workers [section 3].
  • Personal protective equipment is to be used only as a last resort. Engineering controls and work practices must be used where practicable [subsection 2(5)].

Motor vehicle incidents

Police personnel can be involved in serious collisions with tragic consequences. Injuries can also occur when workers are struck by or come into contact with vehicles while attending at scenes or locations where vehicle traffic is present.

A workplace includes the motor vehicle police personnel operate. Police services should continue to promote a culture of safety that includes a focus on safe driving.

Employers must also ensure that vehicles used by workers are maintained in good condition and are safe to use.

Where vehicles are present:

  • review locations where pedestrians and vehicles may be present in/or at a workplace, including roadways.
  • ensure that controls are in place to adequately protect workers from vehicle traffic.

A comprehensive program to protect workers may include an assessment of the risks, implementation of measures and procedures appropriate in the circumstances, such as warning lights, signs, signallers, barriers and worker training. The use of reflective clothing appropriate for the circumstances is also important. Workplace parties may wish to refer to the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard CSA Z96-15 which contains performance criteria for high visibility garments. CSA Standard Z96-15 - High-visibility safety apparel is available through the Canadian Standards Association.

Exposures

Infectious agents

Infectious agents may be present in workplaces that can be a hazard to workers. Workers may encounter a variety of infectious agents from specific tasks that are performed (e.g. during cleaning or maintenance activities) or workers may encounter members of the public who are sick (e.g. norovirus, common cold, influenza) or infected with a communicable disease (such as a blood borne pathogen).

Where there is a hazard of infection, employers must ensure that appropriate precautions are put into place.

  • Ensure that workers are educated about routine infection control precautions appropriate for their work.
  • Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment is available as required.

Chemicals (and drugs)

Workers in police services may encounter a variety of chemicals (including drugs) in a variety of different scenarios such as accident scenes, clandestine drug labs or marijuana grow operations.

Employers must ensure that appropriate precautions are put into place.

  • Ensure that workers are trained in hazard recognition.
  • Ensure that appropriate personal protective equipment is available as required.
  • Ensure that appropriate decontamination processes are put into place as needed.
  • Ensure that procedures are in place for the safe handling and storage of evidence which may be contaminated.

Trends

Table 1: Fatalities and critical injuries in police services by fiscal year
Events2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Fatalities00001
Critical injuries114181016
  • Only critical injury events reported to the ministry are included here.
  • These represents data that were reported to the ministry and may not represent what actually occurred at the workplace.
  • The critical injury numbers represent critical injuries reported to the ministry and not necessarily critical injuries as defined by the Occupational health and safety Act.
  • Non-workers who are critically injured may also be included in the ministry’s data.
  • The Ministry of Labour tracks and reports fatalities at workplaces covered by the OHSA. This excludes death from natural causes, death of non-workers at a workplace, suicides, death as a result of a criminal act or traffic accident (unless the OHSA is also implicated) and death from occupational exposures that occurred many years ago.
  • Data are subject to change because of inspectors’ updates to the database.
Table 2: Events and activities in police services by fiscal year
Events and activities2012-132013-142014-152015-162016-17
Field visits70706958103
Orders1320291620
Complaints1211201120
Work refusals00000

Most common orders issued under the OHSA

From April 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017, the most common orders issued by the Ministry of Labour under the OHSA were:

  • An employer shall provide information, instruction and supervision to a worker to protect the health or safety of the worker [clause 25(2)(a)]
  • Orders issued to an employer related to workplace violence and harassment provisions [sections 32.0.1 through 32.0.8].
  • An employer shall take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances for the protection of a worker [clause 25(2)(h)].

Industrial Regulations identified by section

Inspectors may issue orders in the police sector under the following sections of the Regulation for Industrial Establishments where appropriate.

  • Section 11 – safe work surfaces
  • Sections 22 and 23 – flammable liquids
  • Section 73 – portable ladder
  • Section 76 – machine lockout
  • Section 79 – personal protective equipment instruction
  • Section 130 – biological, chemical, or physical agents

Applicable regulations

Construction regulation

Employers should be aware that in situations where construction work is undertaken, the Construction Projects Regulation (O. Reg. 213/91), may apply.

Construction work can be described as new work, additions, alterations or maintenance and repairs. The Occupational health and safety Act defines construction as including erection, alteration, repair, dismantling, demolition, structural maintenance, painting, land clearing, earth moving, grading, excavating, trenching, digging, boring, drilling, blasting, or concreting, the installation of any machinery or plant, and any work or undertaking in connection with a project but does not include any work or undertaking underground in a mine.

General resources

Publications | Ministry of Labour

For information and Guides, Fact Sheets, Information Bulletins, Guidelines, Alerts, Engineering Data Sheets, Extracts, Reports, Consultations, Codes, and Standards.

Videos and photos | Ministry of Labour

To view Ministry of Labour videos and photos.

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder | Ministry of Labour

What is Bill 163, the Supporting Ontario’s First Responders Act, 2016?

By the numbers: WSIB statistical report

To review Workplace safety and insurance board (WSIB) injury experience data.