THE ACCESSIBILITY OF ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (AODA)
The philosophy of Trimaster and HPG is to be a one source, one responsibility supplier for customers who demand tight tolerances on complex, medium volume components. Our in house capabilities include manufacturing engineering, precision high speed CNC milling, CNC Swiss-style turning and, CNC turning, grinding, elastomers molding and grinding, sheet metal fabrication and precision assembly. Our competencies in each of these areas allow us to provide quality parts at world-class prices. However, we differentiate ourselves by having so many core competencies under one roof. This benefits our customers by capturing synergies and reducing transaction costs and lead times. Our customers only need to work with one vendor, starting from prototyping through to assembly and ongoing product improvement.
Our Commitment
Our commitment in fulfilling our philosophy is to strive at all times to provide our goods and services in a way that respects the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. We are also committed to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our goods and services and allowing them to benefit from the same services, in the same place and in a similar way as other customers. We welcome visitors who are accompanied by a support person, service animal or the use of personal assistive devices on the parts of the premises that are open to the public.
Communication
We will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take into account their disability, whether the communication takes place in person, by phone, in writing or online.
We will train staff who communicate with customers on how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities. A key aspect of communication is taking into consideration the specific needs of an individual. Employees may need to utilize a variety of different techniques to best interact with a person with a disability in order to effectively provide goods and services to that individual.
Assistive Devices
Trimaster and HPG will welcome all customers and the broader public to our facilities by committing our staff to providing our goods and services that respect the independence and dignity of people with disabilities. Such access to goods and services incorporate measures that include but are not limited to the use of assistive devices. Customers with disabilities are welcome to use their own personal assistive devices on our premises unless not allowed by law.
Service Animals
Trimaster and HPG welcome people with disabilities who are accompanied by a service animal on the parts of our premises that are open to the public. If a service animal is excluded by law from Trimaster premises, we will ensure that alternative means are available to enable the person with a disability to access our goods and services.
Use of Support Person
Trimaster and HPG are committed to welcoming people with disabilities who are accompanied by a support person. At no time will a person with a disability who is accompanied by a support person be prevented from having access to his or her support person while on our premises. In the event that a fee is charged in relation to a support person’s presence on Trimaster or HPG premises or to attend an event sponsored by Trimaster or HPG, advance notice of the fee will be provided.
Disruption of Services
Trimaster and HPG will make reasonable efforts to provide notice in the event of a planned or unexpected disruption in the facilities or services where they have control over such facilities or services. This notice will include information about the reasons for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available. Trimaster and HPG will provide notice by posting information in visible places on our premises or on the Trimaster/HPG website or by any other method that may be reasonable under the circumstances.
Training
Trimaster and HPG will provide training to all employees, volunteers and others who deal with the public on Trimaster’s or HPG’s behalf, and all those who are involved in the development and approval of customer service policies, practices and procedures. Training will be provided as soon as practicable after an individual assumes responsibilities related to the public and will include the following:
The purposes of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service;
Information regarding Trimaster or HPG policies, practices and procedures relating to the customer service standards;
How to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities;
What to do if a person with a particular type of disability is having difficulty accessing your goods or services;
How to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device, service animal or support person;
How to use the equipment or assistive devices that may be available at Trimaster or HPG.
The amount and format of training will be tailored to suit each person’s interactions with the public or his/her involvement in the development of policies, procedures and practices pertaining to the provision of goods and services. Staff will also be trained on an ongoing basis when changes are made to these policies, practices and procedures.
Recruitment
Trimaster and HPG are committed to transparent and merit based selection in all of its recruiting and hiring decisions. All applicants are given an equal opportunity for employment in compliance with the provisions of the Ontario Human Rights Code, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, the Standard for Employment under the Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulation, and any other applicable legislation and/or regulations.
Return to Work
Trimaster and HPG are committed to:
Providing a safe and healthy work environment and, in the event of a work-related and non-work related injury or illness that fits the definition of disability under the Ontario Human Rights Code, WSIB, and the AODA, making sure workplace rehabilitation is started as soon as possible in accordance with medical advice (when applicable).
The purpose of our return to work policy is to describe the commitment of Trimaster and HPG to provide for all sick and/or injured employees. The policy will provide guidelines to managers/supervisors, employees, case managers; HR department and employee assistance services on conducting workplace rehabilitation that assists employees affected by work-related and non-work related injuries/illnesses to recover and perform duties for which they are employed. It also supports an early and safe return for the employee who has an illness/injury.
Performance Management
Trimaster and HPG are committed to removing barriers for employees with disabilities and takes into account the accessibility needs of employees with disabilities, as well as individual accommodation plans, when using its performance management process in respect of employees with disabilities.
The performance evaluation program of Trimaster and HPG has been established to enable each employee to receive regular feedback on his or her job performance, to assist him or her to become more effective in his or her position and to inform managers/supervisors of the employee’s career aspirations.
Career Development and Advancement
Career development and advancement applies to all employees and imposes obligations on individuals to develop and on Trimaster and HPG to support that development in ways that are consistent with the needs of individual employees as well as the organization’s needs and objectives.
The principles of equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation are essential characteristics of career development and advancement in Trimaster and HPG.
Career development and advancement needs relate to an individual’s ability to advance within or between jobs and includes activities such as learning additional duties, pursuing opportunities for promotion, exploring other job opportunities using transferable skills and experience, and job skills upgrading.
Career development and advancement will be integrated into the communication of the company’s expectations and the administration of probationary periods for new hires.
Redeployment
Trimaster and HPG are committed to avoiding making staff redundant wherever possible. Where it is necessary to make posts redundant, the organization will seek to redeploy staff into suitable alternative vacancies elsewhere in the company. Successfully redeploying staff whose posts are to be made redundant allows the organization to retain valuable skills, knowledge and experience, reduces the cost and time required to fill vacancies and reduces the time needed for induction and training of new staff.
Although Trimaster and HPG are committed to seeking to redeploy staff at risk of redundancy it is acknowledged that this will not always be possible.
Accessible Formats and Communication Supports
Where an employee of Trimaster or HPG requests it, the organization will consult with the employee to arrange for the provision of accessible information and communication supports for information that is needed to perform the employee’s job, and information that is generally available to employees in the workplace.
Documented Individual Accommodation Plans
Provided a person with a disability is able to perform the essential duties of their own job or other available work and requests accommodation in order to do so, Trimaster or HPG will try to accommodate that person.
A soon as practicable after the employee has been hired, Trimaster or HPG will inform its employees of its policies used to support its employees with disabilities, including, but not limited to, policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Trimaster or HPG will provide updated information to its employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodations that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to disability.
Workplace Emergency Response Information
In any emergency or business interruption, Trimaster and HPG have a responsibility to ensure the safety of its employees and to manage emergencies and business interruptions to minimize loss and inconvenience to all concerned.
An employee who has a disability shall be provided with individualized workplace emergency response information if the disability is such that the individualized information is necessary and Trimaster or HPG is aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. If an employee who receives individualized workplace emergency response information requires assistance, with the employee’s consent, Trimaster or HPG shall provide the workplace emergency response information to a person designated by Trimaster or HPG to provide assistance to the employee.
Each worksite shall establish an Emergency Management Team (EMT), comprised of at least one representative from each of management, human resources, and the Joint Health and Safety Committee, to be responsible for assessing risks to Trimaster or HPG, its employees, equipment and data, and for developing strategies and procedures to minimize and/or prevent losses from the identified risks.
Customer Feedback
The ultimate goal of Trimaster and HPG is to meet and surpass customer expectations while serving customers with disabilities. Comments on our services regarding how well those expectations are being met are welcome and appreciated. Trimaster and HPG have developed a process and form for customers and the public to provide feedback on how the organization is providing accessible information and communications that meets their needs. That process includes how we respond to such feedback in a timely manner.
The process consists of the following:
Information will be posted at our Trimaster offices at 95 Curtis Drive, Guelph, ON or our HPG offices at 29 Brownridge Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 0C6 and placed on the Trimaster/HPG website inviting users of its services or the public to provide feedback on their experience with or concerns about the information and communications system/platform including all types of company documentations received or used.
Printed information is available inviting people with disabilities to provide feedback on their experience or concerns about the accessibility of Trimaster’s and HPG’s information and communications system/platform and documentations used. The accessible information and communication system/platform feedback form is used for that purpose. This form can be emailed, faxed, mailed and submitted in person.
Those wishing to make feedback comments can do so in the following ways.
For Trimaster:
Electronically (by email) at accessibility@trimastermfg.com
In person, at our offices at 95 Curtis Dr, Guelph, ON
By telephone at (519) 823-2661
By fax at (519) 823-2850
In any other format necessary that meets the need of the person with a disability.
For HPG LP:
Electronically (by email) at accessibility@hpglimited.com
In person, at our offices at 29 Brownridge Road, Georgetown, ON L7G 0C6
By telephone at (905) 825-1218
By fax at (905) 825-1220
In any other format necessary that meets the need of the person with a disability.
All feedback will be directed to Human Resources. Customers can expect to hear back in within 1 week.
Complaints will be addressed according to complaint categories already established in our company’s complaint management procedures. Upon receipt, Human Resources will investigate the matter with the appropriate personnel and provide a written response within thirty (30) days.
Questions about this policy
This policy exists to achieve service excellence to customers with disabilities. If anyone has a question about the policy, or if the purpose of a policy is not understood, an explanation should be provided by, or referred to Human Resources of Trimaster or HPG. A copy of this policy is available upon request by contacting Human Resources. The Policy document will be provided in a format that takes into account the person’s disability.
Modifications to this or other policies
We are committed to developing customer service policies that respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities. Therefore, no changes will be made to this policy before considering the impact on people with disabilities. Any policy of Trimaster or HPG that does not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.