VIOLENCE AT WORK

Employers are required to ensure the workplace is as safe as possible for all employees. A safe workplace is not only free from accidents, but it is also violence free. 

Violence includes not only physical harm or attempted physical harm, but also harassment and bullying. 

Categories of bullying : 

• Violence which originates in the workplace and occurs in the workplace, for example revenge by an employee against unfair treatment by a supervisor or a fight between two employees when one believes the other insulted him
• Violence which originates in the workplace but occurs outside the workplace
• Violence which originates outsides the workplace and occurs in the workplace as when an angry husband enters a workplace but occurs outside the workplace and tries to abuse his wife, an employee in that workplace or in the case of a robbery or terrorist attack.

The potential violent worker has a personality described as anxious, depressed, paranoid, resentful, unable to accept criticism and often a loner.

The best way to reduce the risk of violence at the workplace is by:

• conducting a risk assessment to identify where and when incidents of violence may occur 
• establishing strict rules prohibiting violence at the workplace 
• designing and disseminating a procedure to deal with incidents of violence in the workplace 
• providing training for all employees so that they will know what to do in such an event. 

Risk management is a multi-disciplinary activity, typically involving a task force of senior managers from a variety of departments, including human resources. 

Step to managing violence at work :

• find out if the organization has a problem
• decide what action to take
• take action 
• check what you have done