Workplace violence is an issue that touches staff and clients across the health care continuum. Reports indicate that as much as one-quarter of all incidents of workplace violence may take place in health care organizations.
In partnership with Health Force Ontario’s Healthy Work Environment initiative, Accreditation Canada began looking at ways to prevent violence in Canadian health care workplaces in 2008. Work involved a literature review, focus group discussions, evaluation of Accreditation Canada’s Qmentum program, and national consultation.
New criteria in the standards
New criteria to address education and training on preventing and reporting incidents have been added to Accreditation Canada’s standards for services that experience higher rates of violent incidences: Acquired Brain Injury, Emergency Department, Home Care, Long Term Care, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse and Problem Gambling.
Accreditation Canada announces a new Required Organizational Practice
A new Required Organizational Practice (ROP) on preventing workplace violence came into effect in January 2010. Starting in 2011, organizations being surveyed will have to comply with the ROP and its eight tests for compliance.
ROP: The organization prevents workplace violence.
Tests for compliance
- The organization has a written workplace violence policy.
- The policy is developed in consultation with staff, service providers and volunteers.
- The policy names the individual(s) responsible for implementing and monitoring the policy.
- The organization conducts risk assessments to ascertain the risk of workplace violence.
- There is a documented process in place for staff and service providers to confidentially report incidents of workplace violence.
- There is a documented process in place for the organizations leaders to investigate and respond to incidents of workplace violence.
- The organization’s leaders review quarterly reports of incidents of workplace violence and use this information to improve safety, reduce incidents of violence, and make improvements to the workplace violence policy.
- The organization provides information and training to staff on the prevention of workplace violence.
The effects of workplace violence on staff are numerous, and can range from decreased commitment and productivity to higher rates of injury and illness. Improving prevention strategies is crucial to the well-being of health care workers and clients.
Wendy Nicklin, President & CEO, Accreditation Canada