Violence Prevention

Violence-related injuries are a growing concern in the continuing care sector.

The following resources can be used to help address and prevent violence in your workplace.

Violence Risk Assessment Q&A

A violence risk assessment is a process used to determine the risk of violence present in a workplace and provides information on what actions should be taken to eliminate or minimize the level of risk for care workers.


Violence Prevention Policy Template

A Violence Prevention Policy Template developed and approved by SafeCare BC’s Technical Advisory Committee, which is comprised of Union, WorkSafeBC, and Employer Representatives.


Dementia: Understanding Risks and Preventing Violence

A handbook that explores different care approaches and interventions that can be used to reduce the risk of violence to the health care worker when caring for an individual with dementia.


Responding to Aggression in Long-term Care: Lessons from Five Case Studies, April 2004

An in-depth study into the problems of aggression within five of British Columbia’s long-term care facilities. The study’s findings recommend that employers use a systems approach to develop prevention and risk management strategies to reduce incidence of aggression in the workplace.


Communicate Personal Information: Prevent Violence-Related Injuries to Health Care and Social Services Workers

A guide developed by WorkSafeBC to help health care workers balance their obligations to protect client privacy with the need to communicate information to reduce the risk of acts of violence or aggression towards health care workers. This guide is suitable for those working for non-public bodies, including most affiliate and private long term care facilities. This information is targeted to administrators, front-line supervisors, members of joint occupational health and safety committees, educators, and risk managers.


WorkSafeBC Health Care and Social Services Injury Prevention Resource List

A PDF that provides Injury Prevention Resources on  Violence in Healthcare, Dementia, Home Care, Patient Handling, Infectious Disease, Supervision in Health Care, Falls.

Violence Risk Assessment Q&A

A violence risk assessment is a process used to determine the risk of violence present in a workplace and provides information on what actions should be taken to eliminate or minimize the level of risk for care workers.


Violence Prevention Policy Template

A Violence Prevention Policy Template developed and approved by SafeCare BC’s Technical Advisory Committee, which is comprised of Union, WorkSafeBC, and Employer Representatives.


Dementia: Understanding Risks and Preventing Violence

A handbook that explores different care approaches and interventions that can be used to reduce the risk of violence to the health care worker when caring for an individual with dementia.


Responding to Aggression in Long-term Care: Lessons from Five Case Studies, April 2004

An in-depth study into the problems of aggression within five of British Columbia’s long-term care facilities. The study’s findings recommend that employers use a systems approach to develop prevention and risk management strategies to reduce incidence of aggression in the workplace.


Communicate Personal Information: Prevent Violence-Related Injuries to Health Care and Social Services Workers

A guide developed by WorkSafeBC to help health care workers balance their obligations to protect client privacy with the need to communicate information to reduce the risk of acts of violence or aggression towards health care workers. This guide is suitable for those working for non-public bodies, including most affiliate and private long term care facilities. This information is targeted to administrators, front-line supervisors, members of joint occupational health and safety committees, educators, and risk managers.


WorkSafeBC Health Care and Social Services Injury Prevention Resource List

A PDF that provides Injury Prevention Resources on  Violence in Healthcare, Dementia, Home Care, Patient Handling, Infectious Disease, Supervision in Health Care, Falls.

SafeCare BC resources

Videos

Working in continuing care can be like crossing the street – you might not always think about it, but there are risks and hazards to consider.

Because of the job’s unique requirements, continuing care workers are susceptible to violent attacks more often than in other occupations.

  • Violence risk assessment Q&A

    A violence risk assessment is a process used to determine the risk of violence present in a workplace and provides information on what actions should be taken to eliminate or minimize the level of risk for care workers.

  • Violence prevention policy template | long-term care

    A Violence Prevention Policy Template developed and approved by SafeCare BC’s Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of Union, WorkSafeBC, and Employer Representatives. This template is customized for long-term care settings.

  • Violence prevention policy template | community health support

    A Violence Prevention Policy Template developed and approved by SafeCare BC’s Technical Advisory Committee, comprised of Union, WorkSafeBC, and Employer Representatives. This template is customized for community health support settings.

  • Safety huddle | Violence prevention

    Use this safety huddle to review your organization’s policy on violence prevention, including behaviour care planning, code white procedures, violence risk alert system, and post-incident procedures.

  • Home and community care pocketbook | Violence in the workplace

    Working closely with clients and their families and friends, often under difficult circumstances and sometimes in isolated locations, can put you at risk of violence. Violence and aggressive behaviour are not part of your job.

  • Home and community care pocketbook | Working alone

    When working alone, you may face a risk of violence, as the care you are providing may cause a client to feel nervous or agitated. Being exposed to violent or aggressive behaviour is not part of your job.

Training and education

instructor-led | 8 hours

Provincial violence prevention training

Led by an expert health care facilitator, the Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum, delivered by SafeCare BC, will teach you how to prevent and de-escalate potentially violent situations in the workplace and how you can protect yourself in the event of a behavioural crisis.

Register today

online | self-paced

Violence in the workplace

In this course, you will learn about violence in the workplace, including:

  • recognizing violence
  • calling for help
  • reporting incidents of violence
  • point of care assessment
  • workers' right to refuse unsafe work

50% off all January | Register today

instructor-led | 4 days (8 hours each)

Provincial Violence Prevention Curriculum | Train the Trainer

This workshop is designed to provide comprehensive training on leading violence prevention practices and coaching principles. As a peer facilitator, you will have the knowledge to teach your co-workers the violence prevention curriculum.

Register today

WorkSafeBC resources

  • Dementia: Understanding Risks and Preventing Violence

    A handbook that explores different care approaches and interventions that can be used to reduce the risk of violence to the healthcare worker when caring for an individual with dementia.

  • Communicate Personal Information: Prevent Violence-Related Injuries to Health Care and Social Services Workers

    A guide developed by WorkSafeBC to help healthcare workers balance their obligations to protect client privacy with the need to communicate information to reduce the risk of acts of violence or aggression towards healthcare workers. This guide is suitable for those working for non-public bodies, including most affiliate and private long-term care facilities. This information is targeted to administrators, front-line supervisors, members of joint occupational health and safety committees, educators, and risk managers.

  • Health care and social services high-risk strategy

    The Health Care and Social Services High-Risk Strategy (HRS) focuses WorkSafeBC resources on high-risk work activities within health care and community social services settings.

  • Healthcare violence inspection checklist

    This guide is intended to inform employers of the parts of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation that prevention officers will focus on as part of the Health Care High-Risk Strategy.

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