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POLICY STATEMENT
Syngenta Canada Inc. (“Syngenta”) is committed to providing an accessible and inclusive environment in which
all persons have equal access to its goods and services as required by the Accessibility Standards for
Customer Service, O. Regulation 429/07 (“ASCS”) made under the Accessibility for Ontarians with
Disabilities Act, 2005 (“AODA”).
Syngenta will take steps to ensure that any person with a disability who visits a facility of Syngenta or who
accesses Syngenta’s goods and services will be able to do so in a manner that respects dignity and
independence.
Syngenta will make every reasonable effort to ensure that its policies, practices and procedures respecting
the provision of accessible customer service will be consistent with the principles of independence.
Syngenta is open to feedback and looks forward to improving its environment for all persons, including
persons with disabilities.
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DEFINITIONS
Disability
For the purpose of this policy, the term “disability” includes:
- any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily
injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes
mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical co-ordination,
blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or
physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or
device;
- a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability;
- a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or
using symbols or spoken language;
- a mental disorder; or
- an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established
under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.
Employee
For the purposes of this policy, The term “employee” refers to any person regarding whom Syngenta pays wages
or a salary, has control over their assigned work and has a right to control the details of their work. This
includes, but is not limited to:
- full-time employees
- part-time employees
- seasonal employees
- contract employees
- interns
Service Animal
For the purposes of this policy, an animal is a service animal for a person with a disability:
- if it is readily apparent that the animal is used by the person for reasons relating to his or her
disability;
- or if the person provides a letter from a physician or nurse confirming that the person requires the
animal for reasons relating to the disability.
“Service animal” also includes a guide dog as defined under the Blind Persons’ Rights Act Section 1.
Support Person
For the purposes of this policy, a “support person” is a person who accompanies a person with a
disability in order to help with communication, mobility, personal care or medical needs or with
access to goods or services. The support person could be a paid personal support worker, a volunteer, a
friend or a family member. He or she does not necessarily need to have special training or qualifications.
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SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY
This Policy applies to all employees and/or agents who work for Syngenta and provide goods and services to
members of the public and/or third parties on behalf of Syngenta. This Policy applies to persons with
disabilities who access Syngenta’s goods and services or facilities. In addition, this Policy
may be supplemented by a site specific policy which addresses unique attributes of a specific Syngenta
facility. To the extent that a site specific policy exists it is attached hereto as an exhibit.
Communication
Syngenta will communicate with people with disabilities in ways that take
into account their disability.
Service Animals
Service animals are permitted on Syngenta’s facilities that are open to
guests and visitors and the animal is not otherwise excluded by law. It is the responsibility of the
person using the service animal to keep control of the animal at all times.
Where it is not readily
apparent that an animal is a service animal, an employee may make a polite inquiry to confirm that the
animal is a service animal and to request documentary confirmation of same, such as a doctor’s note,
confirming the need for a service animal.
A service animal may be removed from the facility only where
its conduct poses a threat to the safety and well-being of others. If an employee or Syngenta’s customer is
allergic to service animals, alternative arrangements will be negotiated and instituted.
Support Persons
Persons with disabilities are welcome to bring a support person to assist
them in any Syngenta facility that is open to guests and visitors. Fees will not be charged for
support persons.
Use of Assistive Devices
Persons with assistive devices
are entitled to use personal assistive devices while accessing any of Syngenta’s goods and services or
facilities. There is a broad range of assistive devices, including white canes, computers/laptops,
communications devices.
Privacy
Persons with disabilities are entitled to
confidentiality and the protection of their privacy. Persons with disabilities are not required to disclose
to employees of Syngenta information about the nature of their disability, unless specifically needed to
better accommodate the needs of the person with
disabilities.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality and privacy of the person
with a disability will be respected at all times by Syngenta’s employees.
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NOTICE OF TEMPORARY DISRUPTIONS
If there is a temporary disruption of facilities or goods and services that persons with disabilities usually
use to access Syngenta’s facilities or goods and services, Syngenta will use all reasonable means to give
notice of the disruption to the public and give ideas of alternate ways of accessing the facility or goods
and services.
Notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated duration and a
description of alternative facilities or goods and services. Notice will be given by posting the information
in a conspicuous place on Syngenta’s facilities or by posting it on Syngenta’s website. Disruptions to all
of Syngenta’s goods and services, such as during a power outage, does not require notice.
Where an employee knows that a person with a disability intends to attend a Syngenta facility and may be
impacted by a temporary disruption, the employee will also attempt to contact the specific individual to
advise of the disruption and to discuss possible alternate ways of accessing the facility or offering to
reschedule or relocate the visit.
Where a Syngenta facility includes elevators, then the party responsible for servicing elevators will be
noted and the service provider will be responsible i and as such, they would be required to ensure that
notice of temporary disruptions to elevator service is provided as required by the ASCS. If all elevators to
access Syngenta’s facilities are out of service, Syngenta will assess the situation and determine whether
notice needs to be provided to members of the public and/or third parties that could reasonably be expected
to access Syngenta’s facilities.
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TRAINING
Syngenta is committed to ensure that its existing and new employees receive training on this policy on a
regular basis. Our training will include:
- The purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005;
- An overview of the requirements of the Accessibility Standards for Customer Service;
- Instruction on Syngenta’s internal policies and procedures;
- Instruction on how to interact and communicate appropriately with persons with various types of
disabilities;
- Instruction on how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the
assistance of a service animal or a support person (including appropriate and inappropriate methods of
interaction);
- How to locate the assistive devices at Syngenta’s facilities and a description of alternative methods of
service provision used at Syngenta that may help with the provision of goods and services to people with
disabilities;
- What to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing Syngenta’s goods and
services;
- How to deal with feedback and complaints, including internal escalation of the feedback or complaint, as
appropriate.
- QUESTIONS/INQUIRIES/COMPLAINTS/FEEDBACK
Syngenta prides itself on being accessible to all its customers. If
anyone has feedback or a concern about accessibility issues or the application of this policy, they can
contact:
Syngenta Canada Inc.
By telephone 519-836-5665
By email to AODA.feedback@syngenta.com
Syngenta will promptly investigate all complaints and is committed to taking appropriate actions if
there is a failure to abide by this policy. All complaints will receive a written response. Syngenta
also welcomes general feedback on how our facilities can be more accessible to persons with
disabilities. Syngenta will consider all general feedback and respond in writing if appropriate.
Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
(“AODA”) Policy.
View the Syngenta Canada Accessibility Plan