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Workplace Violence Prevention Take All Threats Seriously Health care environments, such as hospitals and clinics, are highly emotional settings. People who work in health care must have the knowledge and training to respond to potentially violent encounters. Did You Know … • Nurses and direct care providers have the highest rate of nonfatal workplace violence events. • Bullying can be a form of workplace violence. • New Cal/OSHA rules, which began in April 2017, require California employers to track and report incidents of workplace violence. Our Policy on Workplace Violence Providence California policy and guidelines surrounding workplace violence apply to all of our caregivers, medical staff, students, contractors, vendors and volunteers. Aligned with our Mission and core values, Providence California is committed to providing a safe and secure working environment for caregivers and all who enter our doors. In keeping with this commitment, our policy and guidelines prohibit actual or threatened acts of violence by caregivers against others, and promote workplace safety and security by identifying and addressing areas where violence is most likely to occur, including situations where an outside individual could enter the workplace and engage in violence that could threaten caregiver and/or patient safety. Definitions of Workplace Violence Workplace violence can include: • The threat or use of physical force against an employee that results in, or has a high likelihood of resulting in, injury, psychological trauma or stress, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury. • An incident involving the threat of or use of a firearm or other dangerous weapon, including the use of common objects as weapons, regardless of whether the employee sustains an injury. Four types of workplace violence: 1. Violence committed by a person who has no legitimate business at the work site, including violent acts by anyone who enters the workplace with intent to commit a crime. 2. Violence directed at caregivers by customers, clients, patients, students or others who provide services. 3. Violence against a caregiver by a current or former caregiver or supervisor. 4. Violence committed in the workplace by someone who does not work there but who has, or is known to have had, a personal relationship with a caregiver. Report all threats of violence as well as actual violence. Your local workplace violence team will contact Cal/OSHA as required. Bullying Bullying can escalate into workplace violence. The Joint Commission characterizes bullying as "…offensive, abusive, intimidating, insulting behavior that can include abuse of power or unfair sanctions that make recipients feel upset, humiliated, vulnerable or threatened, creating stress and undermining self-confidence …" If you or other caregivers experience bullying, do not suffer in silence. It is critical that you report the behavior to management and/or Human Resources. Recognizing Workplace Violence Situational awareness is a term used by the military and law enforcement to identify a state of heightened awareness of your surroundings so that you are ready to react and retreat from a hazardous or escalating situation. Provider Education Training Manual 25 |

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