What is workplace violence?

Workplace violence is any act where a person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted in his or her employment. Threatening behaviour, verbal or written threats, harassment, verbal abuse, and physical attacks are categories of workplace violence, and spreading rumours, swearing, pranks, sabotage, theft, psychological trauma are examples of acts of workplace violence.

Workplace violence does not have to only occur inside the workplace, it can occur off-site for example at a conference or trade show, social events related to work, in clients’ home or away from work but resulting from work.

Employees are more likely to experience a higher rate of workplace violence if their jobs include: working with the public, handling money, valuables or prescription drugs, carrying out inspection or enforcement duties, providing service, care, advice or education. Working with unstable or volatile persons, working on premises where alcohol is served, working alone, in small numbers or in isolated or low traffic areas, having a mobile workplace (taxicab), or working during times of organizational change (e.g. strikes, downsizing).

Workplace violence can also occur at increased rates during certain times of the day, night or year, for example: Christmas. As well, depending on where your workplace is located there may an increased risk of violence; for instance, near buildings or businesses that are at risk of violent crime (e.g. bars, banks) or in areas secluded from other buildings or structures.

How can you prevent violence in your workplace? WSIB outlines 5 steps workplaces should take to prevent workplace violence.

• Step 1: Establish violence prevention policy and standards;
• step 2: conduct a risk assessment;
• step 3: control violence hazards through workplace design and work practices;
• step 4: educate and train your workers on how to prevent violence;
• step 5: regularly inspect your workplace and review your program to ensure standards are maintained.

CCOHS has resources available on its website for workplaces to do a risk assessment for workplace violence. As well, there are practices workplaces can implement in order to reduce the incidents of workplace violence.

References:
http://www.wsib.on.ca/wsib/wsibsite.nsf/Public/WorkplaceViolence
http://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocial/violence.html#_1_7

Posted by: suhujitha on 2009-02-12 15:05:57

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