Glossary

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A

Abusive Behaviour
A pattern of behaviour that establishes power and control over another person through fear and intimidation, often including the threat of violence. It can be emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, threats, use of privilege, intimidation, isolation and a variety of other behaviours used to maintain fear, intimidation and power.

Accident
An undesirable or unfortunate incident that occurs unintentionally and usually results in harm, injury, damage, or loss; includes motor vehicle accidents.

Aggressive Behaviour
Behaviour that often involves violent, angry or harmful actions. This type of behaviour may be physical or verbal. When someone acts aggressively, he or she may lash out by hitting, pushing, kicking, or hurting the person.

B

Bullying
The persistent mistreatment of one or more employees, sometimes by an employee in a position of influence or authority, who, intentionally or unwittingly, subjects others to behaviour that humiliates, demoralizes or otherwise undermines the victim’s credibility, effectiveness and personal well-being.

C

Competent Person
Is a person appointed to investigate unresolved incidents of workplace violence. They must be someone who is impartial and is seen by the parties to be impartial; has knowledge, training and experience in issues relating to workplace violence; and has knowledge of relevant legislation.

D

Delegated Manager
Is a manager designated by the employee’s Director General or Executive Director for each unresolved incident of workplace violence, and may be the employee’s manager.

Disabling Injury
An employment injury or an occupational disease that prevents an employee from reporting for work or from effectively performing all the duties connected with the employee’s regular work on any day subsequent to the day on which the injury or disease occurred (time lost).

Dynamic Posture
A body position which changes, with movements of the limbs or other parts of the human body in relation to one another or with respect to a fixed object.

E

Employee
A person employed in the public service within Employment and Social Development Canada, including Service Canada, the Labour Program and all other service offerings managed within the ESDC portfolio.

Employer
A person who employs one or more employees, including an employer’s organization and any person who acts on behalf of an employer. This includes any person who acts in a supervisory or managerial capacity on behalf of Employment and Social Development Canada, including Service Canada, the Labour Program and all other service offerings managed within the ESDC portfolio, and encompasses all senior management officials, directors, managers, team leaders, supervisors, management leads, and site leads.

Ergonomic Adjustment
The process of setting up and/or adjusting workstation equipment to fit the worker and providing basic ergonomic recommendations, based on prescribed ergonomic guidelines.  An ergonomic adjustment is conducted by a staff member who is trained as an Ergonomic Coach. 

Ergonomic Assessment
The process of assessing an employee’s ergonomic needs; setting up and/or adjusting workstation/work area equipment to fit the worker; and providing ergonomic recommendations, based on prescribed ergonomic standards.  An ergonomic assessment is conducted by an Ergonomics Specialist for an employee who has received a medical indication.

Ergonomic Evaluation
The process in which an ergonomic adjustment or assessment is requested and/or conducted. 

Ergonomic Coach
An employee who is trained by an Ergonomic Specialist, usually a qualified service provider, to conduct an ergonomic adjustment.

Ergonomic Specialist
A qualified individual with industry-recognized certification or specialized training who conducts an ergonomic assessment. 

Ergonomics
The study of workplace design and the physical impact it has on workers.  Ergonomics is about the fit between people, their work activities, equipment, work systems, and environment to ensure that workplaces are safe, comfortable, efficient, and that productivity is not compromised.

H

Harassment
Improper conduct by an individual, that is directed at and offensive to another individual in the workplace, including at any event or any location related to work, and that the individual knew or ought reasonably to have known would cause offence or harm.” It comprises objectionable acts, comments, or displays that demean, belittle, or cause personal humiliation or embarrassment, and any act of intimidation or threat.

Health and Safety Representative (HSR)
A person who is appointed as a health and safety representative under section 136 of the Canada Labour Code, Part II.

Health Care Professional
A health care professional includes a physician, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, massage therapist, or chiropractor.

I

Investigation – Workplace Violence
A systematic process conducted by the competent person for unresolved matters of workplace violence under section 20.9(3) of the Canada Occupational Health and Safety Regulations. The investigation will review the incident of workplace violence, comment on any underlying factor(s) encountered during the course of the investigation that may have contributed to the situation or that may have had a negative effect on the work environment, evaluate the adequacy of preventive measures enacted by the employer, and recommend any additional preventive measures that they feel are necessary to ensure similar incidents of workplace violence do not occur in the future.

M

Management Lead
A management representative, appointed in writing by the Executive Head Service Management or Assistant Deputy Minister, who is assigned as the lead authority for all health and safety related matters for one or more workplaces.

Medical Indication
A medical indication includes a medical referral; a written verification from the employee’s manager that he/she has been referred by a health care professional for treatment that has not yet been administered; or a written verification from the employee’s manager that the employee’s personal attributes (related to physical variations that fall outside of the average, such as very tall, very short, obesity, amputation, paralysis) may impact his/her ability to perform their duties at a standard workstation.

Medical Referral
A written referral received by an employee from a health care professional for an ergonomic assessment.

Minor Injury
An employment injury or an occupational disease for which medical treatment is provided and excludes a disabling injury.

Example:
An employee cut himself and is required to go to the clinic or the hospital to get stitches. The employee is back to work the same day or the following day.

Musculoskeletal Disorder (MSD)
Musculoskeletal disorders are injuries of the muscles, nerves, tendons, joints or spinal discs.  Common MSDs include carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and tension neck syndrome.

N

Near Miss
An incident or event that did not result in injury but by its occurrence could indicate a hazard or condition to warrant investigation

Non-Disabling Injury
An employment injury or mishap which may or may not have required first aid, did not require medical treatment, and did not prevent the employee from reporting to work.

Example:
An employee cut himself but only requires treatment available in the first aid kit. The employee is immediately back to work.

O

Occupational Diseases
A health problem caused by exposure to a workplace health hazard.

Other Hazardous Occurrence
Any hazardous occurrence which resulted in any of the following circumstances:

1. electric shock, toxic atmosphere or oxygen deficient atmosphere that caused an employee to lose consciousness;
2. the implementation of rescue, revival or emergency procedures;
3. a fire, an explosion;
4. any damage to an elevating device that renders it unserviceable or free fall of an elevating device; or
5.  any damage to a boiler or a pressure vessel which could or couldn't result in a fire or the rupture of the boiler or pressure vessel.

P

Policy Health and Safety Committee (PHSC)
A committee established under section 134.1 (1) of the Canada Labour Code, Part II.

R

Regional Occupational Health and Safety Committee (Regional OHS Committee)
Regional OHS Committees are established under Module I of the Departmental OHS Program to assist the PHSC in meeting its obligations within the region it is established to represent. A Regional OHS Committee is not a policy committee, nor recognized under the Canada Labour Code or the National Joint Council’s OHS Directive.

S

Site Lead
Where there is no Management Lead in the workplace, a Site Lead will be appointed in writing by the Management Lead to perform on-site duties, in support of occupational health and safety in the workplace. The Site Lead must have the authority to exercise some or all managerial responsibilities.

 Static Posture
Adoption of a body position that is fixed over time and where there is muscle contraction without movement.

T

Teasing
The act of harassing someone playfully or maliciously (especially by ridicule); provoking someone with persistent annoyances.

W

Work area
A work area refers to an assigned place where an employee normally conducts his/her work tasks, usually outside of a standard office workstation or involving tasks that require standing for extended periods, lifting or reaching.  A work area could include a front-end client service area, mailroom, or warehouse, among others.

Workplace
Any place where an employee is engaged in work for the employee’s employer (Canada Labour Code, Part II).

Workplace Health and Safety Committee (WHSC)
A committee established under section 135 of the Canada Labour Code, Part II.

Workplace Violence
Any action, conduct, threat or gesture of a person towards an employee in their workplace that can reasonably be expected to cause harm, injury or illness to that employee.

Workstation
A workstation refers to a cubicle, office or space where an employee normally conducts his/her work tasks, primarily in a seated position.  The workstation usually contains standard office equipment, such as a desk, computer equipment, telephone and chair.