Recognizing Violence in the Workplace

Workplace Violence

• Is defined as threatening, attempted or actual behaviour of a person that causes or is likely to cause physical injury (Occupational Health and Safety Code Part 1)
• Work-related violence can also occur at off-site work functions, such as conferences or social events
• Employers must manage workplace violence in the same format as other workplace hazards as identified within Part 2 of the OH & S Code which outlines the need for hazard assessment, elimination and control
• Employers must develop a policy and procedure regarding workplace violence that involves instruction to workers

Click here to view examples of forms of workplace violence.

Think about some causes of violence and who they can come from. Click here here to see a few examples.

Certain situations also increase the risk of violence in the workplace such as:

• work processes, situations and interactions (i.e working alone, providing care or service)
• certain times of the day or year (i.e. late hour of the night or early hours of the morning)
• geographical locations (i.e buildings that are isolated from other buildings)

When working alone, health care workers face a risk of violence for many reasons; click here to learn more.