INTRODUCTION

Definition

Violance is The Health and Safety Executives definition of work-related violence is:
any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in
circumstances relating to their work.
Verbal abuse and threats are the most common types of incident. Physical attacks are
comparatively rare.

Violence at work is any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted

in circumstances relating to their work.
Within this definition - abuse means the ill treatment of someone and/or insulting language;
threat means declaring an intent to cause pain or loss to someone; and assault means an unlawful
physical attack and/or attempt to do violence to another.
This definition covers a broad range of behaviour that can create a risk to the health and
safety of workers. Some industries and occupations describe behaviour that fits this definition as:
acting out, challenging behaviour and/or behaviours of concern

Types of violence at work

Violence at work can be broken down into different types based on what the source of
violence is. Four types of violence were described by the Californian Occupational Health and
Safety Authority:
1)

The first type is external occupational violence this is usually associated with robbery

or other crime. It usually occurs in retail, hospitality, security, cash handling, health, policing,
finance and banking industries.
2)

The second type is service-related violence which is associated with providing services

to a: client, customer, patient or inmate. It usually occurs in hospitality, retail, health, aged care,
disability, prisons, juvenile justice, policing, youth services, education, and enforcement of local
laws.

3)

The third type is worker-to-worker violence, where the source of violence is another

worker. For further information, see Appendix 2. For information on bullying and workplace
harassment see Code of Practice Preventing and Responding to Bullying
at Work.
4)

The fourth type is relationship violence which is where interpersonal disputes, not

associated with the workplace or services provided, occur in the workplace. This type of violence
is not usually work-related

Using risk management to prevent violence at work

Risk management of violence at work involves an approach that is planned, systematic
and covers hazards and associated risks to worker safety.
identifying hazards and assessing risks are processes that help identify:
1. what could harm workers
2. how likely it is that harm may occur (eg: not very likely, very likely) and
3. how serious the harm could be (eg: minor injury, serious injury, death)
controlling risks is a process that concentrates on working out which risk control
measures are the most effective to use according to the circumstances.
review and improve the effectiveness of control measures is a way to check that the
prevention measures are working as planned and where needed, make improvements to
the prevention approach.

Consultation
Consultation is an essential part of the risk management approach to preventing violence
at work. A person who conducts a business or undertaking must consult with, so far as is
reasonably practicable, health and safety representatives (HSRs), health and safety committees
and workers on health and safety issues.

Identifying hazards and assessing the risk of violence at work

The risk indicator on page 8 is designed to assist in identifying risks to workers. Check
whether the factors described are present at the workplace or other places where workers perform
their work. It is important to recognise that factors are often interrelated, and may be present at
the same time, and shouldnt be considered in isolation. Factors. The risk indicator also
highlights how work and what workers encounter or are
required to do at work can increase the consequences of violence.
Other sources of information that can be used to assist identify if violence is a hazard
at the workplace include:
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)

hazard and incident reports

discussions with health and safety representatives
discussions with workplace health and safety committees
discussions with workers, customers or clients
workplace inspections
workers compensation claims.

CONCLUSION
Violence at work can occur in any industry, but it more commonly occurs in industries
and occupations where people interact with others. Violence at work can cause Physical and
psychological injuries and has caused the death of workers and others. It can also impose costs
on industry and the community through increased workers Compensation and insurance
premiums.

Occupations commonly affected by violence at work

-Doctors, nurses, ambulance officers, welfare workers, personal care attendants,

Accommodation service workers
-Police, prison and other government enforcement officers, teachers, probation officers,
Collection agency workers
-Counter staff, managers, call centre staff, people who handle cash, cashiers
-Guards, bus drivers, taxi drivers, couriers, airline staff
-Sales & support staff; people who work alone or in isolation; people who work at night
-Hospitality staff, managers, administration & other occupations
This guide will help people who conduct businesses or undertakings make informed
decisions about the best way to eliminate hazards or minimize health and safety risks arising
from work carried out by their business or undertaking. The approach described in this guide will
help people who conduct businesses or undertakings to develop work systems to prevent
violence at work and also to respond to incidents if they occur.