Prevention of violence in the workplace

Violence, crime and trauma at work cost employers millions of dollars annually in time lost and disability claims, poor customer service, crisis public relations, increased turnover and difficult lawsuits. The core problem of violence in the health care setting is that it is associated with the main purpose of the organization--providing a service to the public. Clearly the task of preventing violent incidents is integral to the business of managing a medical group practice. While there are no good statistics on the actual incidence of violence in the health care professions, more than ever before, health care providers are responding to the cumulative abuse they experience as "part of their job" with lingering psychological and physical reactions. A sad outcome is frequently witnessed when these same staff erupt in angry or aggressive behavior toward unsuspecting coworkers, supervisors, clients and even their own families. The author offers a systematic approach to assessing the risk of workplace violence, including practical methods for risk control and prevention. Additionally, understanding the potential hazards and associated costs of workplace violence, allows managers to take the appropriate measures to decrease risk to the work force and consequently to the organization.