Workplace Violence
The prevention of workplace violence has emerged as an important safety issue in and around hospitals and healthcare facilities. Workplace violence such as physical assaults, or threatening or violent behavior, are a growing problem in the workplace. The workplace may be any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs any work-related duty.
From 2002 to 2013, incidents of serious workplace violence (those requiring days off for the injured worker to recuperate) were four times more common in healthcare than in private industry on average. In 2013, the broad "healthcare and social assistance" sector had 7.8 cases of serious workplace violence per 10,000 full-time employees. Other large sectors such as construction, manufacturing, and retail all had fewer than two cases per 10,000 full-time employees.
OSHA recommends that employers establish and maintain a violence prevention program as part of their facility's safety and health program. The prevention program should:
- be available to all employees
- ensure employees receive specific training on program content and implementation
The main components that should be included in a facility's Violence Prevention Program are:
- management commitment and employee involvement
- worksite analysis
- hazard prevention and control
- safety and health training
- recordkeeping and evaluation of program
To prevent workplace violence a written program should incorporate the above areas and state clear goals and objectives suitable to the size and complexity of the given workplace. Although not every incident can be prevented, many can be, and the severity of injuries sustained by employees reduced by following a violence prevention plan.
For more information on this topic, see course 176 Healthcare: Workplace Stress and Violence.
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
2-5. Which of the following component should NOT be included in a facility’s Violence Prevention Program?
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