Managing the Risk of Workplace Violence to Healthcare and Community Service Providers
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Managing the Risk of Workplace Violence to Healthcare and Community Service Providers
The Department of Labour recognises the excellent work of the Counties-Manukau District Health Board, the Australian Faculty of Occupational Medicine and the Australasian Society of Occupational Medicine in producing this Best Practice Guideline. It is a comprehensive document that provides practical guidance on managing the risk of violence to healthcare and community service providers.
Occupational violence is causing increasing concern across a variety of workplaces. Apart from the serious and long-lasting physical and psychological effects on individuals, their families and colleagues, it impacts on productivity, the quality of care provided to patients, and the industry's reputation.
Adopting the safe work practices in this Guide will assist employers, the self-employed and others with duties to understand their responsibilities under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992. The Guide will also make employees aware of the hazards of occupational violence that they may encounter at work, and see the range of practicable steps that can be taken to ensure their safety and that of others who could be affected by their work.
The Department of Labour thanks all those who were involved with the development of this Guide, and encourages its adoption by everyone involved in the healthcare and community service providers sector.
Maarten Quivooy
Group Manager, Workplace Services
Department of Labour
Managing the Risk of Workplace Violence to Healthcare and Community Service Providers
This is an industry-developed guideline that will fulfil health and safety obligations to healthcare staff while enhancing patient care.
Released on 22 January 2009
This document was developed by a professional group lead by the Occupational Health Unit of the Counties Manukau District Health Board in conjunction with representatives from the Australian Faculty of Occupational Medicine (AFOM) and the Australasian Society of Occupational Medicine (ANZSOM). It draws on material from a draft Code of Practice developed by the Department of Labour (NZ) and with further input from Austin Hospital (NSW), Barwon Health (Victoria), and various Occupational Physicians, other doctors and healthcare workers with an interest in mental health care and occupational medicine.
As such, this document represents a "best practice" approach developed by an industry group - an industry-based "Code of Practice". It provides a basis for units to compare their practice and to join together in developing effective solutions.
This is not a medical document, it takes the format of a "Code of Practice" that healthcare workers and their managers can refer to when discussing management methods to mitigate this risk to their wellbeing. It is primarily focused on the community care situation rather than the larger hospital with inpatient beds and staffing levels, although the principles of risk assessment and risk management are applicable.
Comment and suggestions for improving the document are welcome. Ideally alternative formats will be developed and units can adapt the various documents to suit their needs.
- Comments, amended or new self assessment templates or further case material can be posted to travisp@middlemore.co.nz.
- This document uses the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE Act) as a model of legislative requirements, and should be adapted by individual users to their local legislation.
- It applies risk management principles and procedures, and then attempts to demonstrate these principles through a number of scenarios (not every scenario in the best practice document is relevant to every organisation).
- Included are a number of self-assessment templates. These are but one mechanism that can be used. Mental Healthcare providers may wish to develop their own self-assessment tools or modify these tools to their own environment.
Employers and employees will not need to be reminded that workplace health and safety is part of the wider employment environment, and in this sector, patient treatment relationship. As such, the suggested policies and procedures outlined in this document need to be grounded in good employment and patient care practice.
The development group thanks all those organisations and individuals who have helped in the development of this best practice document, and invites submissions on amendments throughout the life of the publication.
"Incidents where staff are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, including commuting to and from work, involving explicit of implicit challenges to their safety, well-being or health."
Framework Guidance for Addressing Workplace Violence in the Health Sector. - ICO/ICN/WHO/PS1 General 2002.