Reporting Violence and Injuries

 

YOU have a LEGAL obligation to report violence, whether it against yourself, a student or another person.

  • A student throws a ruler at you
  • a student kicks you
  • a student spits on you
  • a student says “I’m going to stab you you with my pencil.”
  • a student hits another student
  • a student threatens another student
  • a student brings alcohol to school
  • a student brings a knife to school

These examples are just a small sample of the types of incidents that MUST be reported.

You can access the forms for reporting violence and/or injury online through ourdock.ca -quick links – more links – EBase. The 3 main forms are:

  • Employee Workplace Incident / Accident / Injury Reporting Form

(Below is a non-exhaustive list of possible reasons for completing this form.)

    • Struck by a student
    • Pushed against a wall
    • Student Aggression
    • Workplace Violence or harassment
    • Slip/Trip/Fall
    • Occupational Illness

The Incident/Accident / Injury form is primarily for occurrences involving educators. If you receive a physical injury, EVEN IF you don’t immediately seek medical treatment, please ask for a WSIB Form 7.

  • SAFE SCHOOLS INCIDENT REPORTING FORM 
    • A student threatens to injure a student or adult
    • A student brings drugs or alcohol to school
    • A student is intoxicated
    • Swearing at a teacher of at another person in a position of authority
    • Committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage
    • Bullying
    • Any act considered by the Principal to be injurious to the moral tone of the school

The SSIR form is primarily for student incidents. Once this form has been submitted, the Principal must follow-up with you about actions taken. If another student is harmed, the principal must inform that child’s guardian.

  • Use of Physical Intervention Report
    • As Teachers, we SHOULD NEVER use physical intervention with students. However there is the very rare exception, when intervention to prevent serious injury to a child, another child or yourself is the only option. This form is primarily for properly trained Educational Assistants, and staff working in special education programs.
    • If you ever have need to complete this form, please let the President of the Local know.

Please review the information below if you are unsure which form to complete.

If you are still uncertain, please contact the Local. (705..934..3836)


Under the Occupational Health and Safety Act

The EMPLOYER (BOARD) is required to set up measures and procedures for workers to report incidents of workplace violence to the school board or principal.

WORKERS (All Staff, DECE, Occasional Teachers, teacher candidates, co-op students) are REQUIRED to report to the employer or the supervisor (the principal) incidents of workplace violence.

The SUPERVISOR (Principal) is REQUIRED TO ADVISE workers of any workplace danger, actual or potential, and take every precaution reasonable in the circumstances to protect the workers. This danger includes danger from a person (or student)

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

As defined by the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workplace violence is:

a) The exercise of physical force by a person against the worker, in the workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker;

b) The attempted exercise of physical force against the worker, in the workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker; or

c) A statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for the worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in the workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.

The above applies to violence against a worker perpetrated by anyone regardless of mitigating factors – including children and adults. So yes this applies to that 3 or 4 year old child in kindergarten.


When reporting violence against a worker, verbally report to the principal and also fill out and complete the Employee Incident/Accident/Injury form. Remember, violence can be an attempt, mental injury or physical.

If you missed work due to a violent incident, print and complete the required forms in the WSIB-Employee-Injury-Reporting-Kit so that any future WSIB claim is not delayed.


Education Act

Board Employees who BECOME AWARE that a student has engaged in a serious student incident that could lead to suspension or expulsion are required to report the incident to the principal.

Reporting a serious student incident should occur as soon as possible and a Safe Schools Incident Report should be filed with the principal by the end of the day on which the incident occurred (or the member became aware).

Principals investigating reports of serious student incidents MUST COMMUNICATE THE RESULTS of their investigation to the teacher who made the report.

Student behaviours that can lead to suspension include:

· uttering a threat to inflict serious bodily harm on another person

· possessing alcohol or illegal drugs

· being under the influence of alcohol

· swearing at a teacher or at any person in a position of authority

· committing an act of vandalism that causes extensive damage to school property at the student’s school or to property on school premises

· bullying, including cyber-bullying

· any other activities identified in school board policy (you can ask the principal what these are).

Student behaviours that can lead to expulsion include:

· possessing a weapon, including a firearm

· using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person

· committing physical assault on another person that causes bodily harm requiring treatment by a medical practitioner

· committing sexual assault

· trafficking in weapons or in illegal drugs

· committing robbery

· giving alcohol to a minor

· bullying (under certain circumstances)

· any activity for which a student can be suspended that is motivated by bias, prejudice or hate

· any other activities identified in school board policy.


Regardless of the form, remember, your administration must mark it as a VIOLENT INCIDENT if it falls into one of these categories (PPM 120):

  • possessing a weapon, including a firearm
  • using a weapon to cause or to threaten bodily harm to another person
  • physical assault causing bodily harm requiring medical treatment
  • sexual assault
  • robbery
  • extortion
  • hate and/or bias-motivated occurrences

 Posted by at 10:24 pm