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iliforkzone, not warzone
Page 40
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Violence in the workplace, whether from staff or members of the public, is unacceptable but it can be combated. Michael Gore explains.
Work-related violence has serious consequences for employees and the organisations they work for. Pyschologically, attacks on staff cause anxiety and stress which can cost the employer money. sink staff morale and increase staff turnover. A new website area has been created by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) relating to violence in the workplace. The introduction of such a site highlights the extent of the problem in the UK and the government's seriousness in its resolve to grapple with it. Employees can face violence from either their fellow employees or from members of the public.
Transport workers are particularly vulnerable to attack from the public and employers need to be mindful of their responsibilities under health and safety legislation.
Legal duties
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a legal duty on all employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, sa te t■ and welfare of their employees.
Added to this, the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 require employers to assess the risks to their employees, decide what steps should be taken to prevent or control the risks and then provide clear management structures to achieve these aims. The risks covered should include the protection of employees from exposure to reasonably foreseeable violence.
If acts of violence in the workplace occur. the Reporting of Injuries. Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1995 might apply. These require employers to notify the appropriate authorities in the event of an accident at work to any person resulting in death, major injury or incapacity for normal work for three or more days. This includes any act of physical violence inflicted on a person at work.
Employers should be alert to the HSE's very wide definition of workplace violence: "Any incident in which a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances relating to their work." This definition covers not only physical attacks, but also threats of physical violence and general bullying. HSE guidance The Health and Safety Executive has publishel guidance for employers on how to deal wit' violence at work, focusing on how to deal wit dangers from the public. It stresses the need ti. carry out a risk assessment in order to identif the dangers to which staff are exposed. Stal should be interviewed to understand if they fet threatened, and records should be examined t see the extent of the problem to date.
When assessing the risk of work-related vic lence. employers should consider the trainin and information provided to current and ne, employees. Such training should include a not confrontational approach to situations.
In relation to lone workers for exampl HGV drivers, the HSE has recommended lb following to reduce the risk of violence: the 1.1E of mobile phones,personal panic alarms, simpl office systems to monitor staff movements an pairing workers, where possible.to reduce the vulnerability. • Michael Gore is a solicitor in the Regulate, Group of DIA, an international lawfirm.