Health and Safety | York Region District School Board

Working with you to Maintain a Safe and Healthy Workplace

What are my Health and Safety Rights and Responsibilities?

In the York Region District School Board, like any workplace in Ontario, employees are entitled to a safe & healthy work environment. Violence & harassment in the workplace are unacceptable. Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, employers, supervisors and workers share the responsibility of identifying and solving workplace health and safety problems.

Your rights under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

The right to participate is fulfilled through the Internal Responsibility System (IRS) which is outlined below. An example is being able to provide input on health and safety concerns.
All workers have the right to refuse unsafe work if they believe their work is dangerous to their health and safety or another worker’s health and safety. One caveat on this right is that a teacher may not refuse to work if that may place a student at risk. The other is that work cannot be refused on the grounds of workplace harassment. Your principal/supervisor has been instructed on work refusals and is aware of the very specific procedure required by law that must be followed. The key elements to understand are that you must immediately report your concern to your principal/supervisor. Your principal/supervisor may move you to a safer location, but you must stay at the workplace until the matter is resolved.
You have the right to know about any hazards you may be exposed to on the job. One of the ways this is fulfilled is through training about WHMIS, the “Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System”.

Internal Responsibility System

When internal responsibility is referred to in an occupational health and safety sense, it means that the workplace parties must, by law, do everything reasonable to resolve workplace concerns themselves in the workplace. The premise is that people at a workplace often know best what is needed to make the workplace safe. Where additional help is needed this should be sought, however people in the workplace are responsible to make sure all health and safety matters are resolved.

Your Responsibilities

Briefly stated, your duties include:

Using and wearing any equipment, protective devices or clothing that is required;
Reporting to your principal/supervisor any missing, broken, or defective equipment or other hazard in the workplace, or any violation of health and safety law that you know about; and,
Not working or operating equipment in a way that would be dangerous to yourself or anyone else in the workplace and not taking part in pranks or horseplay.

Your Principal/Supervisor’s Responsibilities

Your principal/supervisor must inform you of any unsafe working conditions in the workplace and the appropriate measures to be followed to protect your health. Briefly stated, a supervisor must take every precaution reasonable to protect their staff.

What to do if I have a Health & Safety Concern

You must report your health and safety concern to your principal/supervisor. Your principal/supervisor will investigate and try to resolve your concern(s).
If the issue is not addressed and your concern remains unresolves, report your concern to your MJOHSC Certified Worker – Designated Health and Safety Inspecting Representative.
The MJOHSC Certified Worker – Designated Health and Safety Inspecting Representative is responsible for completing the Concern/Work Refusal Form P540-01.
The Board’s Health & Safety Manager or one of the Officers may be requested to assist in the investigation.
If the situation is likely to endanger you, you may decide to do a work refusal if the criteria for doing so are met. You are encouraged to speak to your MJOHSC Certified Worker – Designated Health and Safety Inspecting Representative.
Refer to Board Policy and Procedure #540.0, and the Work Refusal page on the BWW for information on the criteria for a work refusal, the steps involved in reporting and resolving work refusals including investigation procedures and potential corrective actions.

Multi-Workplace Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee (MJOHSC)

The Board has a Multi-Workplace JOHSC that has representatives from both workers and management. The MJOHSC worker members represent CUPE locals 1196 and 1734, ETFO, ETFO Occasional teachers, OPSEU, OSSTF, PSSP, and Non-Union staff. Health and safety committees are set up to discuss occupational health and safety problems in the workplace and make recommendations to resolve them. A list of all MJOHSC members and their locations and phone numbers are posted on the health and safety bulletin board in your school, as well as on BWW.

What should I do if I’m you are injured at work?

Obtain first aid and/or medical or other emergency services.
Report the accident or incident immediately to your principal/supervisor or have someone do this for you using the online Employee Accident/Incident eForm. Please refer to the Work Related Accident/Incident – Employee Checklist on the Accident/Incidents page under Resources for more information.
Accidents will be investigated by either your principal/supervisor or a MJOHSC Certified Worker - Designated Health and Safety Inspecting Representative. Responsibility for investigation depends on the type of occurrence. Through the investigation of accidents and incidents, facts and circumstances related to the event are identified. These insights lead to the recommendation of corrective measures needed to prevent future occurrences.
If medical attention will/may be sought and/or if possible lost time beyond the day of the injury, notify Human Resource Services by telephone immediately following the accident/incident at 905-727-0022, extension 2258 or extension 2343.
As of October 1, 2025, the Employee Accident/Incident eForm will be moved from My eForms to eBase. This new eForm can be accessed through the BWW under Online Tools and selecting the Accident/Incident icon at the top of the page.

What should I do if I experience or witness workplace violence?

Summon immediate assistance and/or call 9-1-1 as appropriate.
Notify your principal/supervisor.
All incidents of violence that meet the definition of workplace violence under the OHSA must be reported using the Boards Employee Accident/Incident Report eForm.
The principal/supervisor, in consultation with the employee, will investigate/take steps to prevent a recurrence.
This form must be completed regardless of age of student or mitigating circumstances. Please be aware that this reporting requirement is not to be confused with Safe Schools Incident Reporting. In some instances, both reporting eForms may have to be completed.
For more information, refer to Board Procedure #250.1.

What should I do if I experience or witness an incident of non-code harassment?

There is no eForm for reporting non-code harassment. You can report an incident either verbally or in writing to your principal/supervisor. Refer to Board Procedure #250.2 for information about the investigation process and timelines.
Flow charts are now available to guide Employees and Supervisors through the process of reporting, investigations and what outcome findings will be shared.

Health and Safety Services

Health and Safety is part of Human Resource Services and is located at the Education Centre Aurora. The Health and Safety Office is staffed by:

Health & Safety Manager – Renate Kaskow x2324
Health & Safety Officer – Matthew Chan x2326
Environmental Safety Officer – Kori Zsigmond x2467
Health & Safety Specialist – Sharon Seegobind x2639
Health & Safety Representative – Delia Clausi x2343

Where can I find more information in my school?

Each school has two health and safety bulletin boards, one of which is located in the staff room or other area accessible to all staff; the second located in the caretaking area. A copy of the Occupational Health and Safety Act is posted on the board along with a contact list of your Health and Safety representatives as well as information about the Board’s health and safety policy, procedures, programs and practices.