Violence Prevention

Incidents where persons are abused, threatened, or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, involving a direct or indirect challenge to their safety, wellbeing, and health (BC Provincial Violence Prevention Steering Committee, 2008).

WorkSafeBC defines violence as the attempted or actual exercise by a person, other than a worker, of any physical force so as to cause injury to a worker. Violence also includes any threatening statement or behaviour which gives a worker reasonable cause to believe that the worker is at risk of injury (WorkSafeBC, 2022).

Occupational Health and Safety Regulation requires employers to perform a violence risk assessment in any workplace where a risk of injury to workers from violence may be present. The risk assessment must consider prior experience at the workplace, experience in similar workplaces, and the location and circumstances of the work.

A violence risk assessment is required at the beginning of operations, when a significant change to operations occurs (i.e., new location or renovation), or following a violent event.

In a medical clinic, the following factors should be considered in a violence risk assessment:

• Number, location, severity and frequency of violent incidents.
• Layout and workplace conditions, including fixtures and equipment, furniture, barriers, lighting and doors.
• Exits and emergency procedures.
• Interactions with patients and the public.
• Age, gender, experience, and skills of staff.
• Enforcing policies with the public (e.g., no public washroom; not accepting patients)
• Staff working alone or in isolation, and the availability of backup staff.

The Violence Prevention Clinic Inspection checklist can assist the clinic in conducting a Violence Risk Assessment by identifying existing controls and areas for improvement. While some items are not marked mandatory, they represent best practices for violence prevention in the clinic.

Conduct a risk assessment to determine the nature and type of violent incidents anticipated in the clinic, and the likelihood of occurrence.

The physician employer must create a violence prevention policy that outlines the roles and responsibilities of the employer and staff, standards, and procedures to prevent violence and harassment in the clinic. Staff should receive training on this policy and its procedures. This template can help you establish the violence prevention policy.

Implementing a patient code of conduct in the clinic is not required but is recommended. Posting notices about a zero-tolerance policy for abusive behaviour, enforcing those policies, and promoting a safe workplace are also advisable.