Last Revised: December 1, 2024
Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Canada (RBA Canada) is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. Specific to our Ontario operations, we are committed to meeting the needs of Ontarians with disabilities in a timely and transparent manner and will do so by preventing and removing barriers to accessibility and meeting accessibility requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and accompanying regulations.
We are committed to training all staff and volunteers at our Ontario auction sites in accessible customer service, other Ontario’s accessibility standards and aspects of the Ontario Human Rights Code that relate to persons with disabilities.
In addition, we will train all persons who participate in developing the organization’s policies and whom we rely on to provide services on our behalf directly to customers.
Training will be provided in a way that reflects the duties of staff and volunteers, and includes:
The purpose of AODA
our policies related to the Customer Service Standards under AODA
how to interact and communicate with people with various types of disabilities
how to interact with people with disabilities who use an assistive device or require the assistance of a service animal or a support person
how to use the equipment or devices available on-site or otherwise that may help with providing services to people with disabilities
what to do if a person with a disability is having difficulty in accessing our organization’s services or facilities.
We train our people as soon as practicable after being hired and provide training in respect of any changes to the policies.
We maintain records of the training provided including the dates on which the training was provided and the number of individuals to whom it was provided.
RBA Canada is committed to meeting the communication needs of people with disabilities. We will work with the person with disabilities to determine what method of communication works for them.
As further discussed here, to the greatest extent feasible, RBA Canada conforms to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 AA standards.
RBA Canada will continue to assess its current forms of communication for appropriateness and will consider accessibility requirements when creating new forms of communication.
We welcome any and all feedback on how to provide accessible customer service. Customer feedback will help us identify barriers and respond to concerns. Feedback can be delivered as follows:
by phone at our Ontario facility by contacting 1.905.857.2422 and asking to speak with the Regional Operations Manager, Debra Rondinelli
by phone at our Canadian head office by contacting 1.778.331.5500 and asking to speak with the HR Service Centre
by using the contact us form; or
in person, by visiting the Ontario facility and asking to speak with the Regional Operations Manager.
Customers can expect to hear back from us in a timely manner. RBA Canada ensures our feedback process is accessible to people with disabilities by providing or arranging for accessible formats and communication supports, on request.
Any person may request copies of our documentation related to accessible customer service in an accessible format or with communication support. We will consult with the person making the request to determine the suitability of the format or communication support. We will provide the accessible format in a timely manner and, at no additional cost.
In the event of a planned disruption or unexpected disruption to services or our Ontario facility for customers with disabilities, RBA Canada will notify customers promptly. This clearly posted notice will include information about the reason for the disruption, its anticipated length of time, and a description of alternative facilities or services, if available.
We notify employees and prospective job applicants that accommodations can be made during recruitment and hiring. We notify job applicants when they are individually selected to participate in an assessment or selection process that accommodations are available upon request. We consult with the applicants and provide or arrange for suitable accommodation.
We notify successful applicants of policies for accommodating employees with disabilities when making offers of employment.
We notify staff that supports are available for those with disabilities as soon as practicable after they begin their employment. We provide updated information to employees whenever there is a change to existing policies on the provision of job accommodation that take into account an employee’s accessibility needs due to a disability.
We will consult with employees when arranging for the provision of suitable accommodation in a manner that takes into account the accessibility needs due to disability. We will consult with the person making the request in determining the suitability of an accessible format or communication supports specifically for:
information that is needed in order to perform the employee’s job; and
information that is generally available to employees in the workplace
Where needed, we will also provide customized emergency information to help an employee with a disability during an emergency. With the employee’s consent, we will provide workplace emergency information to a designated person who is providing assistance to that employee during an emergency.
We will provide the information as soon as practicable after we become aware of the need for accommodation due to the employee’s disability. We will review the individualized workplace emergency response information:
when the employee moves to a different location in the organization;
when the employee’s overall accommodations needs or plans are reviewed; and
when the employer reviews its general emergency response policies.
We have a written process to develop individual accommodation plans for employees.
We have a written process for employees who have been absent from work due to a disability and require disability-related accommodations in order to return to work.
Our performance management and career development processes take into account the accessibility needs of all employees.
RBA Canada’s facilities are not generally accessible to the public. Our auction sites are potentially dangerous places due to the loading, unloading and movement of industrial equipment. Accordingly, we carefully manage access to and within our facilities.
We endeavor to manage and maintain our Ontario facilities to meet the needs of our Ontario customers with disabilities and prevent and remove barriers to accessibility, for instance:
Our parking lots contain designated accessible parking spaces reserved for Ontarians with disabilities.
Our service queues and other waiting areas in the office building are mobility device friendly.
We welcome people with service animals in certain parts of our premises. If a service animal is prohibited, we will explain why and discuss with the customer another way of providing access. When we cannot easily identify that an animal is a service animal, our staff may ask for documentation (template, letter or form) from a regulated health professional that confirms the person needs the service animal for reasons relating to their disability. A service animal can be easily identified through visual indicators, such as when it wears a harness or a vest, or when it helps the person perform certain tasks.
A customer with a disability who is accompanied by a support person will be allowed to have that person accompany them on our premises. Generally, the support person will not have to register as an auction buyer so long as they acting for the benefit of the customer.
We offer use of iPads as an accessible alternative to our self-serve Timed Auction system kiosks. In addition, our auction services, such as bidding platforms, are available through our website and people with disabilities may use their personal devices when accessing our services.
If there are disruptions that affect the accessibility of our facilities, we will put procedures in place to notify affected persons in accordance with this policy.
RB Canada will maintain a multi-year accessibility plan outlining our strategy to prevent and remove barriers for persons with disabilities and meet requirements under AODA and accompanying regulations.
RB Canada will review this policy and the accessibility plan for compliance at least once every five (5) years, or as changes to the underlying legislation so require.