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Reducing workplace violence in emergency medical services: a Finnish Delphi study to develop prevention guidelines
Joonas Hänninen1,2, Laura-Maria Peltonen3,4, Heikki Riihimäki5,6
1The Wellbeing Services County of Southwest Finland, Turku, Finland. joonas.hanninen@varha.fi.
International Journal of Emergency Medicine
|May 12, 2026
Summary
Workplace violence (WPV) poses a significant risk to emergency medical services (EMS) personnel. Consensus guidelines highlight defining acceptable behavior, mental health training, and systemic tools as key priorities for WPV prevention in EMS.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Occupational Safety
- Healthcare Management
Background:
- Workplace violence (WPV) is a recognized occupational hazard for emergency medical services (EMS) personnel.
- Existing strategies for mitigating WPV in EMS require refinement and consensus-based guidelines.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop consensus-based guidelines for EMS supervisory personnel to address the risks associated with WPV.
- To establish evidence-based recommendations for enhancing safety in the EMS environment.
Main Methods:
- A multiprofessional Finnish expert panel (n=43) participated in a two-stage, web-based Delphi study.
- Consensus was defined as agreement among ≥80% of the expert panel participants.
Main Results:
- Consensus was achieved on 19 out of 25 statements regarding WPV in EMS.
- Key priorities identified include defining acceptable conduct, implementing mental health and de-escalation training, and utilizing national systemic models and technology for WPV prevention.
Conclusions:
- Zero-tolerance policies for WPV in EMS are often impractical.
- EMS leadership should focus on WPV risk assessment, standardized training programs, systemic prevention tools, and continuous evaluation of interventions.
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