WORKPLACE VIOLENCE A THREAT TO HUMAN RIGHTS

Workplace violence is an occupational health and safety hazard. For Ontario workplaces that are subject to the Occupational Health and Safety Act, workplace violence is defined as:

• the exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker;
• an attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker; or,
• a statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.

Some of the types of violence that workers could experience in the workplace include hitting, pushing, physical assault, sexual assault, stalking, criminal harassment, robbery, or threats of violence.

The Occupational Health and Safety Act also defines workplace harassment. 

Millions of workers experience violence or the threat of violence in their workplaces every year. These crimes range from physical assaults to robbery and homicide. Although the numbers of such crimes have significantly declined in recent years, workplace violence is the second-leading cause of occupational injury. Workers in certain occupations such as nurses, utility workers, taxi drivers, letter carriers, and especially those who work alone or at night are particularly vulnerable. Unlike other crimes, the greatest proportions of these crimes are committed by strangers. The majority of workplace homicides are shootings committed by robbers. Decreasing the occurrence of these crimes is a growing concern for employers and employees nationwide.

Sources of Workplace Violence

Clients, customers, patients, students, workers, supervisors, managers, strangers, intimate partners, or family members can introduce violence into the workplace. The following is a list of potential sources of workplace violence, based on classifications used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). See the References section for more information.

Strangers or people with no ties to the workplace may commit a violent act at the workplace, such as assault, robbery, sexual assault, or hostage taking.

Clients, customers, patients, students, or others who have a legitimate reason to be in the workplace may become violent towards workers or with each other. A customer may threaten an employee while complaining about a product/service, a patient may hit a nurse, or two non-workers who are fighting may hurt a worker who is nearby.

Other workers, whether a manager, a co-worker, or a subordinate, may act violently towards a worker or may threaten physical violence. 

Intimate partners, family members, or friends may use violence or threats of violence against a worker. This may also be known as domestic violence or intimate partner violence and would be considered workplace violence if it were to occur in the workplace. A current or former spouse or partner or another family member may assault, criminally harass, or stalk a worker at the workplace, or close to the workplace. 

Risk Factors for Workplace Violence

Certain types of work or conditions of work can put workers at higher risk of workplace violence, usually from strangers, clients, customers, patients, or students. The list below is based on the risk factors outlined by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

Several of these activities or conditions may apply in your workplace. Occasionally, none will.

In addition, there may be other risks in your workplace. For example, the risk of violence may be higher at very busy times of the year or at certain times of the day or night, or may be associated with serving alcohol.

Contact your health and safety association for help identifying risk factors for your type of business. See the Resources section on page 31 for contact information.

Having direct contact with clients

Workers who provide a product or service and deal directly with clients in a fixed location — such as workers in retail stores, gas stations, factories, manufacturing facilities, industrial settings, office environments, and health care facilities or clinics — may be at higher risk.

Handling cash

Workers who handle cash in a fixed location — such as cashiers in retail stores, gas stations, etc., and anyone maintaining petty cash and making cash deposits — may be at higher risk.

Working alone or in small numbers

Workers at a fixed location who work alone or with a very few others — such as workers at retail stores, gas stations, factories, manufacturing facilities, industrial settings, office environments, and health care facilities or clinics — may be at higher risk.

Working with unstable or volatile people

Workers who provide services or products to persons with physiological, psychological, and psychiatric conditions or substance abuse issues — such as caregivers, parole officers, police officers, corrections officers, youth officers, or social workers — may be at higher risk.

Working in a community-based setting

Workers who work in the community and provide services in private homes and dwellings — such as home support staff, caregivers, home service/repair personnel, real estate agents, insurance agents, or sales people — may be at higher risk.

Mobile workplaces

Workers who travel in a vehicle most of their workday to provide a service and who may have limited communication with their employer — such as salespeople, consultants, auditors, or contract accountants — may be at higher risk.

Working in high-crime areas

Workers who perform services in a fixed location in a high-crime area may be at higher risk. Note that a “high-crime area” is identified by police and insurance and real estate broker statistics.

Securing or protecting valuable goods

Workers whose main job responsibility includes protecting or securing valuable goods (in transport and/or at a fixed location which, if left unprotected or unsecured, might become a target for theft or loss) — such as security guards — may be at higher risk.

Transporting people and/or goods

Workers who transport people in taxis, buses, streetcars, or the subway, or who transport goods by vehicle, may be at higher risk.