What is workplace violence?
The workplace is any place a worker performs a job, such as an office, hospital, parking lot, school, private residence or public building.Violence is defined as any act of aggression that causes physical or emotional harm, such as physical assault, rape, verbal abuse, threats (including bomb scares) and even sexual harassment. Types of assaults include pinching, biting, hitting, grabbing, kicking or being struck by a weapon. Almost any object can be used as a weapon. Workplace violence often captures attention only when a death occurs. But fatalities are only the tip of the iceberg.Threats and assaults that cause injuries occur much more frequently and may escalate into murder. Even the fear of assault or witnessing an assault on a co-worker can seriously affect a worker’s health.
