Violence

Violence is a threatened or enacted form of harm that can be physical and/or psychological in nature. In a workplace, it is the most extreme form of unacceptable behaviour. It covers a broad range of behaviours that can create a risk to the health and safety of workers. Incidents of violence can be a singular occurrence or repeated.

It includes:

• verbal assaults or threats
• throwing objects
• pushing, shoving, tripping, grabbing
• striking, kicking, scratching, biting, spitting or any other physical contact
• attacking with knives, guns, clubs or any other type of weapon
• intimidating behaviour that creates a fear of violence, such as stalking or sexual harassment, or threatening to do any of the above
• hazing or initiation practices for new or young workers
• gendered violence, where behaviour is directed at any person or affects a person because of their sex, gender or sexual orientation, or because they do not adhere to socially prescribed gender roles, that creates a risk to health and safety

Work-related violence also includes threatening or intimidating behaviour which occurs in writing, via text message, social media or other forms of electronic communication.

In some circumstances bullying behaviour may include elements of violence. Persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) (usually the business or employer) should address these physical behaviours separately from other unreasonable behaviour. Information on managing the risk of bullying can be found here .

Work-related violence can come from a range of sources, including:

• organisational (for example, a colleague, manager/supervisor or other workers),
• client-related (for example, clients, customers, patients, people in custody) , or
• external (for example, members of the public).

Workers across all industries may experience work-related violence. This includes but is not limited to first responders, health care workers, teachers and retail staff.

Preventing and responding to work-related violence

A workplace violence prevention program must be part of your overall health and safety program. It should be developed and implemented in co-operation with workers or their health and safety representatives. The program needs to be developed after you have done a specific risk assessment for violence in your work environment.

Reasonably practicable steps for managing work-related violence can include a workplace violence prevention program which forms part of your overall health and safety program. It should be developed and implemented in consultation with workers or their health and safety representatives. The program needs to be developed after you have done a specific risk assessment for violence in the work environments where your workers will work when undertaking work for a PCBU.

A violence prevention program should include the following components:

• a written policy to eliminate or minimise risk
• regular risk assessments
• prevention procedures
• worker and supervisor training
• procedures for reporting and investigating incidents
• incident follow-up
• program review
• designing service delivery solutions if required.

Practical solutions to managing work-related violence can be found in the following guidance:

• SafeWork NSW Preventing and responding to work-related violence guide
• Safe Work Australia national guide Preventing workplace violence and aggression (PDF)
• Safe Work Australia Preventing workplace violence and aggression – guidance for small business, and
• Safe Work Australia Workplace violence and aggression – advice for workers.

Violence or threats of violence

Work-related violence can fall within the scope of various state and federal laws. Physical assault, robbery, sexual assault and threats to harm someone should always be referred to NSW Police.

Cash-in-transit

Safe Work Australia has information to help you manage the risks of transporting cash. Their specific Cash-in-transit information includes:

• the General guide for managing cash-in-transit security risks, which provides information on how to manage cash-in-transit security risks involving armoured or non-armoured vehicle operations
• the Cash-in-transit information sheet, which provides advice for small businesses about cash-in-transit procedures
• the Guide for handling and transporting cash is directed at businesses transporting cash 'in-house', for example where a sole worker transports cash from the workplace to a bank.

Training your workers

Training for workers on violence, including sexual harassment, demonstrates a PCBU’s commitment to managing this risk.

To assist workers to understand, prevent and manage incidents of work-related violence, we have prepared an overview of topics for any work-related violence staff training program.

You can adapt these to the needs of your work activities and specific workplace.