Reducing Violence in Australian Health Care: Five Essential Steps to a Safer Workplace  

Addressing Workplace Violence in Health Care: Strategies for a Safer Environment

The increasing rate of violence and the lack of effective prevention strategies are negatively affecting health care organisations and their staff across Australia and New Zealand. Developing a workplace violence prevention programme that focuses on de-escalating disruptive behaviours before they escalate into violence can significantly improve working conditions, reduce staff turnover and encourage quality patient care.

A successful workplace violence prevention programme starts with a solid foundation. Health care organisations must secure management commitment, establish workplace violence committees, engage employees and provide tailored annual de-escalation training to meet their specific needs and risk levels.

As a leading provider of de-escalation training for health care, we’ve identified the key components that underpin a successful workplace violence prevention programme:

1. Gaining Management Commitment  

To secure management’s commitment to your workplace violence prevention programme, ensure that your organisation’s leaders are aligned with violence prevention policies and workplace safety objectives. They need to understand their roles in supporting these initiatives.

Key strategies for gaining management commitment include:

• Education on programme components
• Access to industry and facility data and trends
• Awareness of improvement opportunities
• Clarification of their roles and responsibilities in violence prevention

2. Establishing Workplace Violence Prevention Committees  

Workplace violence prevention committees are crucial for bringing your programme to life. They oversee the implementation of the programme, ensuring it addresses identified risks and keeps policies current.

Start by coordinating your primary workplace violence prevention committee, which should represent various departments, including Public Safety, Risk Management, Legal, Human Resources, Senior Leadership, Clinical Staff and Social Services.

Diverse representation improves collaboration and boosts system-wide employee participation. The number of committees and their structure may vary depending on your organisation’s size, with some having a single committee and others having multiple subcommittees.

3. Building Employee Participation  

Engaging front-line staff provides valuable insights into the safety landscape of your healthcare setting. Use surveys and leadership rounds to support a culture of feedback where employees feel safe sharing their experiences.

Surveys can reveal the types and frequency of violence staff encounter and their perceptions of current safety measures. Ensuring employees feel supported by management is crucial for supporting participation and programme success.

4. Implementing Routine Training

Regular training is vital to the success of your workplace violence prevention programme. All staff should receive general de-escalation training, while those in high-risk roles or who interact frequently with complex patients should undergo specialised training tailored to their specific challenges.

5. Measuring Effectiveness and ROI

To evaluate your workplace violence prevention programme's success, consistently measure your return on investment (ROI). Track specific metrics before and after implementing de-escalation training to gauge its impact on safety.

Key metrics to compare include:

• Number of incidents
• Turnover rates
• Workers’ compensation claims
• Committee participation
• Employee engagement survey results
• Training implementation rates

By monitoring these insights, your workplace violence prevention committee can identify areas for improvement and adjust strategies as necessary.

Start Building Your Workplace Violence Prevention Programme

By focusing on these five vital components, health care systems can lay a strong foundation for a successful workplace violence prevention programme. This will benefit both staff and patients, creating a safer environment that promotes management and employee engagement while equipping all roles with the skills needed to prevent violence.