Dealing with violence and aggressive behaviour in the workplace

Ideally no-one should face aggression or violence in the workplace, but in reality many people do. For some it will be an occasional hazard they face, while for others it can be a more or less daily occurrence. Regardless of the frequency with which the issues arise, we all have to take the necessary safeguards to minimise (i) the likelihood of problems arising; (ii) the risks involved when they do arise; and (iii) the potentially very negative impact on us. There are no guarantees that aggression and violence will not occur, but there are steps we can take to reduce the chances. Having a sense of control can also help to make dealing with the risks a less stressful experience than it might otherwise turn out to be. What is perhaps the most dangerous approach to take is to assume that ‘it will never happen to me’. We owe it to ourselves and to each other as colleagues to do whatever we reasonably can to keep the risks to a minimum and to be as prepared as we reasonably can for all the possible eventualities. To find out more, choose from the menu below.

Please select from the following:

What are violence and aggression?

How do I protect myself from harm?

What are the warning signs?

What policies and procedures need to be in place?