Guide to Improving Security & Safety in Healthcare Facilities

Across the globe, workers in healthcare settings face a significant risk of client-initiated, occupational violence, whether those workers are operating in emergency rooms, psychiatric hospitals, community health clinics, social service offices, or people’s homes. Nor has the COVID-19 crisis arrested this alarming trend. As recently as late July 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted continuing reports of verbal harassment, discrimination, and physical violence against healthcare workers in the midst of the pandemic.

How pervasive is the issue in Australia, specifically? It’s been at crisis levels for some time now. Since 2009- 2010, the sector has consistently logged the highest number of serious workers’ compensation claims, with disproportionately high rates of homicide and other violent incidents. Nurse assaults, in particular, are at epidemic levels.