Designing for Situations, Not Personalities: How One Hospital Cut Workplace Violence—and What Leaders Can Copy
Generic de‑escalation training often looks good on paper and fizzles on the floor. A new study shows a different path: build simple, situation‑specific playbooks, drill them, and measure what matters. The result? Fewer incidents, less severe harm, and staff who feel more equipped to cope. Idea in Brief It targeted situations, not “difficult people.” Situational […]
How Can Thoughtful Emergency Department Design Reduce the Risk of Violence and Improve Staff Wellbeing?
Violence in healthcare settings, especially within hospital emergency departments (EDs), has reached alarming levels worldwide, contributing to physical harm, psychological distress, increased staff turnover, and ballooning organisational costs. While aggression in EDs is often framed as a behavioural or cultural issue, growing evidence suggests that the built environment may play a decisive role in either […]
Do Body-Worn Cameras Prevent Workplace Violence?
In recent years, the use of body-worn cameras (BWCs) has become increasingly prevalent in various professional settings, particularly within law enforcement and regulatory authorities. These devices are primarily employed to enhance transparency and accountability. However, their potential to mitigate workplace violence has garnered significant attention. This summary explores the effects of BWCs on workplace violence, […]
How does role overload impact workplace violence prevalence?
Occupational violence and aggression (OVA) is a pervasive issue in the healthcare sector, affecting the safety and wellbeing of nursing and caring professionals. Research from Monash University sheds light on the prevalence, sources, and predictors of OVA, as well as the critical role of workplace safety measures in mitigating these incidents. This post delves into […]
How Management Commitment and Safety Climate Reduce Workplace Violence
In the high-stakes environment of state-run residential addiction treatment centres, the safety of both staff and clients is paramount. Yet, workplace violence remains a significant concern, with incidents ranging from verbal threats to physical assaults. Can management commitment and safety culture play a pivotal role in preventing such violence? Understanding the Context State-run residential addiction […]
Can We Protect Healthcare Workers from Physical Violence in China’s Township Hospitals?
In recent years, the issue of workplace violence against healthcare workers has garnered significant attention worldwide. A recent study conducted in China sheds light on the prevalence and risk factors of physical violence faced by general practitioners and nurses in township hospitals. This study, led by Xing Kai and colleagues, provides valuable insights into […]
Can a Strong Workplace Violence Prevention Climate Prevent Occupational Violence and Aggression?
Workplace violence, ranging from verbal harassment to physical assaults, represents a serious occupational hazard in many industries. In response, researchers have increasingly focused on the concept of workplace violence prevention climate, which refers to employees’ shared perceptions of their organisation’s policies, practices, and commitment to preventing violence (Spector et al., 2007). This construct is modelled […]
Are frontline healthcare workers at risk of violence—no matter where they practise?
Evidence from two cross-sectional surveys in under-resourced public hospitals shows that aggression toward doctors and nurses is not confined to conflict zones. Whether working amid economic hardship or in a metropolitan city, caregivers face physical assaults, verbal abuse and threats on a shocking scale. For HR and Occupational Health & Safety (OHS) leaders, the question […]
Occupational Violence and Aggression: Why Work-Related Violence is a Systems Problem
Workplace aggression isn’t rare, and it’s rising. Whether it’s a nurse in Australia, a caseworker in London, or a parking officer in the U.S., workers are facing a surge in occupational violence and aggression (OVA), or as it’s more broadly known internationally, work-related violence. But here’s the issue: most of our responses are stuck at […]