Violence - you must report it to sort it

Violence – you must report it to sort it

The TUC is urging union reps to ensure violence at work is reported. It says telling management formally how violence directed at employees – including physical attacks and verbal abuse – “is critical in tackling the issue at source.” A new TUC online briefing adds: “Without a strong and well-used reporting system, employers cannot respond to incidents or identify potential hotspots and trends.” The union body says union health and safety reps should make sure they negotiate reporting systems that cover several important components, including an agreed definition of what constitutes workplace violence. A clear and concise reporting form should record the facts, including the incident details, time and location, a description of the assailant and of any injuries suffered and any supporting evidence like CCTV or witnesses. Measures should be taken to make sure the system is accessible to all workers, including those whose first language is not English. Workers should be allowed to fill out reporting forms “as soon as possible after the incident. This will ensure that the incident details are fresh in the mind, and allows for the report to be actioned as quickly as possible after the incident has occurred,” the TUC briefing notes. “The report form should also give details on how feedback will be provided to the affected worker, along with the timescale for action. It is important that staff see action being taken as this will encourage more staff to report similar incidents in the future.”

• TUC briefing and draft reporting form.
• Have you had success tackling violence at work? Tell the TUC.