Occupational Health and Safety

The Toronto Police Services Board, as the employer, is ultimately responsible for worker health and safety. Through the implementation of initiatives intended to eliminate occupational illnesses and injuries, the Toronto Police Services Board is dedicated to the goal of enhancing employee wellness and maintaining workplaces that are safe and healthy for the members of the Toronto Police Service. 

The Board recognizes that the local Joint Health and Safety Committees and the Central Joint Health and Safety Committee play an integral role in helping the Board achieve this goal. Joint Health and Safety Committees throughout the Service will be the framework within which Management and the Toronto Police Association will work cooperatively to develop and implement the internal responsibility system that is the key to an effective health and safety program. 

It is, therefore, the policy of the Toronto Police Services Board that: 

1. The Chief of Police will promote efforts that lead to a safe and healthy environment through the provision of initiatives, information, training and through ongoing program evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the Toronto Police Service’s efforts to ensure compliance with occupational health and safety legislation. 

2. The Chief of Police will ensure that members with supervisory responsibilities are held accountable for promoting and implementing available health and safety programs, for complying with the Occupational Health and Safety Act and for ensuring that workplaces under their supervision are maintained in a healthy and safe condition. 

3. The Board acknowledges that every member must actively participate in helping the Board meets its commitment to health and safety by protecting his or her own health and safety by working in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act, adopting the safe work practices and procedures established by the Service and reporting to their supervisor any unsafe or unhealthy workplace conditions or practices. 

4. The Chair will review annually the Occupational Health and Safety policy as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Act.  Any recommended amendments are to be reported to the Board for approval. 

5. The Chief of Police will post at a conspicuous location in the workplace a copy of the Occupational Health and Safety policy.

6. The Chief of Police will provide quarterly Occupational Health and Safety reports to the Board (Minute No. C9/05 refers).

7. It is recognized that from time to time, occupational health and safety matters may arise that must be brought to the Board’s attention on an urgent basis. The Chief of Police will report such matters to the Board in a timely fashion (Minute No. C9/05 refers).