Violence at work

Please note that new work health and safety legislation commences in South Australia from 1 January 2013.

Draft Preventing and Responding to Violence at Work Guide - public comment period has closed

SafeWork SA has sought comment on a draft national guide Preventing and Responding to Violence at Work that has been designed to help people who run businesses or undertakings to develop work systems to prevent violence at work and also to respond to incidents if they occur.

The guide has been developed with a view of being consistent with Work Health Safety (WHS) principles and the Model Work Health and Safety Bill, focussing on risk management tools.  The purpose of the guide is to:

• Assist persons in control of a business or undertaking and workers to prevent and respond to violence at work
• Provide advice that is generally applicable in any workplace in Australia

Submissions closed on 22 September 2011.

Violence at work

Violence can have a dramatic impact on the health, safety and welfare of workers and can cause significant economic and social costs to the victim, their family, the business in which they work and the wider community.

A selection of guides with details of strategies to prevent or reduce the impact of violence from co-workers or customers are listed below.

Guidelines for reducing the risk of violence at work

These guidelines have been developed to help employers, employees and their representatives identify the potential for violence at work and provide practical guidance for the development of risk reduction strategies.

Managing the risks of violence at work in aged care facilities

The risk of violence at work in aged care facilities increases when staff are working with residents who have previously shown aggressive or violent behaviour or where the aged care facility is not prepared for the management of resident aggression. This brochure suggests a range of strategies facilities can adopt to minimise the incidence and severity of violent behaviour.

Managing the risks of robbery in the retail industry

The risk of violence at work in retail outlets increases when security barriers are inadequate, during opening and closing times, in hours of darkness, or when staff are working alone. This brochure explains what retailers can do to protect staff from possible violence at work.

Managing the risks of violence at work in home and community based care

The risk of violence at work in home and community based care tends to increase when clients have not been screened or are not fully aware of the services they are to receive. This brochure explains how organisations can help employees to develop the skills that recognise the early stages of client aggression.

Managing the risks of violence at work in the education sector

The risk of violence at work within the education sector tends to increase where institutions don't have relieving staff to develop skills that recognise the early stages of violence, or where information concerning the previous aggressive behaviour of a student has not been passed on.

Managing the risks of violence at work in the hospitality industry

Risks of violence at work in the hospitality industry increases when staff are working alone or when there are inadequate barriers to prevent robbery. This brochure suggests a range of strategies employers can use to help employees develop skills to recognise and deal with the early stages of client aggression.