Work-related violence

Physical violence is one of the most serious occupational hazards. It covers insults, threats or physical aggression. In 2005 4% of workers report being subjected to actual physical violence from members of the public in the past twelve months.

Violence can come from inside or outside an organisation. Specific acts of violence may be unpredictable, but the likely situations in which violence occurs are not. Risk factors include working with the public, handling money, and working alone.

The consequences of violent incidents, which include injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, sickness absence and poor job performance, can be extremely serious both for individuals and organisations.

Organisations cannot wait until a physical assault takes place before acting. Effective interventions should match an organisation’s particular circumstances, and be based on thorough risk assessments.

Approaches based on preventing violence in the first place are more sustainable than isolated, individual-level measures once an incident has occurred. Effective measures can include providing adequate lighting and video surveillance systems, making changes in work organisation and job design to avoid employees working alone, and providing training in managing difficult situations with customers and recognising warning signs.

It is also important to have procedures that are to be followed in the case of any violent incident, including providing the victim with psychological support.