Tackling Violence at Work

Contents of this page:

• What is violence at work?
• Who is at risk?
• The impact of violence at work
• What should your boss do?
• What unions want employers to do
• Some jobs involve greater risks
• Some employees at a higher risk
• What you can do
• Get a better deal at work - join a union
• Further information

One in five people at work are attacked or abused every year just for doing their job.

Every week people are abused, threatened and beaten up simply because people they have to deal with as part of their job turn violent.

Many receive major or minor injuries, but the psychological effects - stress, depression, even fear of work, can be even worse.

But there is much you and your employer can do to stop you becoming a victim. This page tells you how you, your employer and your union can work together to make your work safer.

What is violence at work?

The TUC uses the Health and Safety Executive's definition, which is

"Any incident in which an employee is abused, threatened or assaulted by a member of the public in circumstances arising out of the course of his or her employment."

This means verbal abuse or threats count just as much as a physical attack.

It can come from people you already know as well as strangers. Teachers can be threatened by their students and patients can attack nurses or carers. Passengers caught without tickets can turn on railway staff or someone denied benefits can take it out on the civil servant who has to give them the news.

Who is at risk?

Half the reported physical attacks at work, and a third of verbal threats, come from people already known by the victim.

Anyone who comes into contact with the public during the course of their work can be at risk. But some jobs carry more danger of attack.

These include the security and protective services, nurses, care workers, and those who work in public transport and catering.

The impact of violence at work

No one knows the real cost of violence at work, and you can't put a price on a shattered life.

But more than 3 million working days are lost due to violent incidents at work every year. The cost to industry of this lost time, lost production and compensation will run into hundreds of millions of pounds.

Then there is the cost to the National Health Service and the benefits system, which have to pick up many of the pieces.

There is also the impact on those individuals who face the fear and reality of violence at work.

Not all injuries are visible or obvious.

Psychological symptoms can include anxiety, tension, insomnia, irritability, loss of confidence, agoraphobia, thoughts of self-harm or guilt. And these can lead to physical symptoms such as alopecia, asthma, eczema, enuresis and psoriasis. There may also be adverse effects on social relationships and sexual dysfunction.

What should your boss do?

Whatever the cause of the violence, your employer has a duty under health and safety law to protect your health, safety and welfare while you are at work. This means that they must assess threats to their staff and work out how they will eliminate or minimise them. All employers must have proper systems for managing health and safety, and these should cover threats of violence just as they should any dangerous chemicals on their premises.

Some violent incidents cannot be predicted but many are foreseeable. Employers have a responsibility to identify these and seek to prevent them.

What unions want employers to do

Where a real risk exists, employers have a legal duty to:

• identify any hazards to the safety of workers arising from their jobs
• plan measures to remove hazards and reduce risks
• train and inform all workers affected

The risk of violent attack at work should never just "go with the job" or be blamed on bad luck, or even worse, the victim.

The TUC believes employers should look closely at the jobs people do and the circumstances in which they work.

Some jobs involve greater risks

If you

• handle money
• provide care, advice or information
• work with violent people
• deal with complaints
• have the power to act against the public such as inspecting premises and enforcing legislation
  
• work alone
• work unsocial hours

Some workplaces put employees at a higher risk

If you work

• on your own, away from other staff
• in the community
• in a workplace that's badly lit
• not on your own employer's premises
• in multi-occupied premises

Often it's a combination of factors rather than a single cause:

• handling money in isolation
• operating a driver-only bus at the end of the day or after pub closing hours
• coping with angry and distressed patients or relatives in an isolated emergency unit late at night

The TUC believes employers should develop safe systems of working through practical policies which include:

• investigations of risk areas and groups
• proper reporting procedures
• creation of safer workplaces (which may include increasing staffing levels)
• information and training for all workers at risk
• checking the relevance of training and any training gaps
• counselling and support for the victim and their colleagues
• effective monitoring

What you can do

Do not wait for a violent incident to occur. Raise the issue of violence at work with your employer. Bring this information to their attention. Ask for a copy of your employer's risk assessment. By law all employers must carry out a workplace risk assessment, which should include assessing the risk of violence. The next step, having identified whether or not there is a problem, is to implement the prevention strategy. If there is a risk, ask your employer what he or she is going to do to protect you.

If you are not in a union - join one! The union will be able to advise you on the best way to get your employer to take your concerns seriously. Unions take violence at work, in all its forms, very seriously, have a wide experience in dealing with the issue, and access to a number areas for support.

If you are subject to physical attack or verbal abuse at work, however 'minor', report it to your manager or supervisor - preferably in writing. Even if you do not make a written report keep a note for yourself setting down the nature of the incident, who you reported it to and whether action was taken. This will be important later if you want to convince your employers that there is a pattern of violence at your workplace or, if it comes to the worst, that an attack means that you have to go to court either to get compensation or to act as a witness in criminal proceedings.

Get a better deal at work - join a union

If you are in a union and are having problems, don't try and deal with it on your own. Raise it with other members or bring your problem to the attention of your union branch or regional office.

At times we all need advice or support in connection with employment. Everyone has the right to join a union - it costs less than you think and your employer doesn't need to know you are thinking of joining up. The average cost of being in a union is only 92p a week for part-timers and £1.99 for those working full-time.

To find out more about how to join a union and which union is the right one for you, phone the TUC on 0870 600 4 882 or complete our form.

Or write to the Join a Union campaign, TUC, Congress House, Great Russell Street, London, WC1B 3LS.

Further Information

The TUC's know your rights line offers free leaflets on a range of workplace rights. Lines are open 8am-10pm everyday. Calls are charged at the national rate. 0870 600 4 882.

Beat bullying at work is a TUC guide for trade union reps and personnel managers on tackling workplace bullying. This is available from TUC publications 020 7467 1294 priced £20 and £10 for trade unionists.

HSE Publications:
Preventing violence to retail staff (HSG133) 1995 07176 08913 - £6.95
Violence at work ((INDG69) 1997 07176 12716 - £2 per pack of 10
Violence to staff in the education sector 1997 07176 12937 - £6.95
Violence and aggression the staff in the health services: guidance on assessment and management 1997 071761466 - £8.50
Prevention of violence to staff in banks and building societies 1993 07176 08913 - £6.95
Victim Support: Cranmer House, 39 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DZ. Tel: 020 7735 9166
Suzy Lamplugh Trust advises business on safe working practices and individuals about personal safety. Tel: 020 8392 1839