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Workplace violence

Viimati uuendatud: 11.10.2019

Workplace violence

During the risk assessment, the most common hazards related to workplace violence should be thought through:

• handling goods, cash and valuables;
• working alone; inspection, control and general power functions;
• contacts with certain types of customers – people asking for a loan, have a history of violence or are violent due to an illness, persons under the influence of alcohol or drugs;
• in ill-managed organizations, the violence emanating from the customers may increase: product deficiencies create an opinion that the goods do not correspond to those advertised; or, the company has an uncomfortable furniture and too little servicing staff.

Consequences of violence range from lack of motivation and decreased self-confidence in executing one’s work tasks until the stress and a physical or psychological health damage. Violence could cause fear, phobias and sleep disorders. In general, the vulnerability of each person depends on the context in which the violence occurs, and the victim’s personal characteristics.

Violence also influences the working collective as people working among fear and grudge cannot give their best. Negative influences on the organization are reflected in the increased absence, decreased motivation and productivity, aggravated working relations and difficulties in finding new employees.

Violence can be avoided on two levels:

• the first level aims to prevent or decrease the acts of violence;
• the second level aims to support the victim in order to decrease the harmful effect of violence.

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