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Work Related Violence

Work Related Violence

HSE Definition

Any incident, in which a person is abused, threatened

or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work

Includes violence to employees at work by members

of public, when arises out of normal work activity

NOT when not at work – i.e. travelling to and from

work

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Work Related Violence

Physical violence

Incidents which:

Require first aid

Require medical assistance

Cause injury

Also:

Involves threat

Verbal abuse

Non verbal abuse – i.e. stalking

Other threatening behaviour

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Work Related Violence

HSE Extended Definition

Any incident where persons are abused, threatened,

assaulted in circumstances related to their work…

…involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their

safety, wellbeing, or health

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Effects

For organisation

Poor morale

Poor image

Poor retention of staff

Absenteeism

Higher premiums

Claims

For individual

Pain, distress, disability, death.

Affect health – mental anguish, stress, anxiety

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Prevalence

British Crime Survey (BCS)

Self reporting – defined categories

Shows a reduction on reported cases 2010

RIDDOR

HSE reports

23.4 per 100,000 employees

2010 - reduction

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Identification and Assessment

MHSWR Reg 3 and 4

Suitable and sufficient assessment of risks

Violence / aggression should be managed the same way as other hazards

5 steps

ID

Assess who and how

Evaluate level of risk and decide if precuations are adequate

Record findings

Review and revise

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Risk Identification

Staff surveys

First step of assessment

MGT perception my be different to employees

Informal discussion or more formal approach

Results of survey should be published to reassure

staff that the problem is recognised

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Risk Identification

Incident Reporting

Encouraged, records kept

Include verbal threats

Account of what happened

Details of victim, assailants, witnesses

Outcome, including lost time to individuals and organisation

as a whole

Location details

Prompt, full reporting should be encouraged and

expected

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Risk Identification

Incident Reporting

Classify incidents

Place

Potential Severity

Time

Who

Type

Possible causes

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Risk Identification

Incident Reporting

Examine to see if potentially more serious outcome:

Fatal injury

First aid

Counseling

Emotional trauma

Major injury

Out patient treatment

Lost time (days)

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Risk Assessment

Assess level of risk, decide on actions

Use data from identification of sources, patterns,

perceived hazard

Consider likelihood

Consider controls

Determine

general risk,

at risk activities,

at risk groups,

at risk individuals

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Risk Assessment

ID those at risk

Personal contact with public

ID potentially violent people in advance

ID patterns

Common areas or times

Consider existing controls

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Factors Likely to Increase Risk

General

Men / women = no difference

Age = younger more at risk

Working with public

Health care

Mental health, alcohol, drugs

Working alone

Outside normal hours

Teachers

Pupils, parents, other visitors

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Factors Likely to Increase Risk

Working alone

Only one person works on premises at a time

Separately from others

Factories, warehouse, etc

Outside normal hours

Cleaners, security, maint staff

Service workers

Collections, postal, social, care, drivers, field workers

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Factors Likely to Increase Risk

Home Visiting

Often done alone

At persons home – no controls

Could be others present

Presence of potential weapons

Handling money / valuables

Planned / opportunist theft

Violence and aggression

Drugs, medical supplies, mobile phone, laptop, company car

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Factors Likely to Increase Risk

Inspection / enforcement

Despite good intentions, seen in adversarial

perspective

Heightened tension

Retail / Licensed Trade

Money exchanged

Theft of goods

Night working

Drunk clients

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Physical Controls

Cash free systems

Design of public areas

Screens – difficult to communicate – increased

tension

Comfortable waiting areas

Plenty of info

CCTV / Security coded doors

Deterrent

Comfort and reassurance to workers

Panic Buttons, personal alarms

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Organisational Controls

Safe transport home arrangements

Those working exceptionally late

Communication systems

Shared info on at risk activities

Monitor staff whereabouts

And overdue

GPS

Mobile phones etc

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Behavioural Controls

Staff training

Theory

Prevention

Interaction

Post-incident action

Basic to advanced

Depending on needs

Body language, recognise situations, interpersonal skills to

defuse aggression

Keep records of training

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Legal Requirements

HASAWA

Includes to protect staff from violence

MHSWR

S+S R/A

RIDDOR

Report incidents

SRSC

Inform, consult with employees

EA 2010

Protection from harassment – “relevant protected characteristic”

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Legal Requirements

Reasonable Force

Entitled to protect themselves

Not more force than is necessary

Self Defence

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