Workplace Violence

Violence, whether at a worksite or work related, is defined by the OH&S Act as the threatened, attempted or actual conduct of a person that causes or is likely to cause physical or psychological injury or harm, and includes domestic or sexual violence. OH&S Act, Section 1

Violence in the workplace could put worker at risk of physical or psychological harm. Workplace violence can include the following:

• Physical attack or aggression (e.g. hitting, shoving, pushing, or kicking a worker, throwing an object at a worker, kicking an object the worker is standing on, such as a ladder);
• Threatening behavior (e.g. shaking a fist in a worker’s face, wielding a weapon at work, trying to hit a worker, trying to run down a worker using a vehicle or equipment such as forklift, destroying property or throwing objects);
• Verbal or written threats
• Domestic violence; and
• Sexual violence.