Workplace Violence Incidents HSE Report Published

The HSE last week published its ‘Violence in the Workplace’ report, which shows that 327,000 have experienced violence at work at least once. It analyses the Home Office’s ‘2008/9 British Crime Survey’ (BCS) results, published in July '09, and presents findings on work-related violence.

The report says that “the risk of being a victim of actual or threatened violence at work is low”. The 2008/09 BCS indicates that 1.4% of working adults were the victims of one or more violent incidents at work.

Approximately 327,000 workers had experienced at least one incident of violence at work in the 2008/09 BCS, 45% fewer than the peak of 592,000 in 1997. There were an estimated 627,000 incidents of violence at work, comprising 321,000 assaults and 305,000 threats. The last HSE Violence in the Workplace Report in 2005-2007 found that there were 288,000 assaults.

The number of incidents of violence at work has fallen by 55% from the peak of 1,404,000 in 1995 to the current level.  
Respondents in the protective service occupations, for example police officers, were most at risk of violence at work, with 9% having experienced one or more incidents of actual or threatened violence while working during the year prior to their interview. Others at risk included health professionals, at 3.8%, and health and social welfare associate professionals, at 2.6%. Science and technology professionals, and workers in textiles, printing and other skilled trades were least at risk.

The 2008/09 BCS found that 1.3% of women and 1.5% of men were victims of violence at work once or more during the year prior to their interview. The highest risk age groups were 25-34 and 35-44 for men (1.8 and 2.0% respectively) and 35-44, and 55-64 for women (1.5%).

It is estimated that over a third (36%) of all people assaulted or threatened at work were repeat victims, with almost a quarter (24%) experiencing three or more incidents of workplace violence during the year, and a further 12% having experienced two incidents.

Strangers were the offenders in 59% of cases of workplace violence. Among incidents where the offender was known, the offenders were most likely to be clients or a member of the public known through work
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Victims of actual or threatened violence at work said that the offender was under the influence of alcohol in 36% of incidents, and that the offender was under the influence of drugs in 18% of incidents.

The 2008/09 BCS found 47% of assaults at work resulted in injury, with minor bruising and scratching accounting for the majority of the injury type recorded.

Brendan Barber, General Secretary of the TUC, commented:
“The recession has undoubtedly been a key reason for the rise in physical assaults. Greater levels of stress and a rise in activities such as shoplifting have led to an increase in violence against workers. The changes to licensing laws have caused more attacks on emergency workers, transport workers and bar staff.

Whatever the circumstances, there must be zero tolerance to any act of abuse or aggression against a person who is engaged in their job. Employers and the police must ensure that action is taken against those that threaten or assault employees.

We also need to stop just talking about the problems of binge drinking and instead take action to control the drink culture that has helped fuel this rise in violence and abuse, which many of our key workers now face on an almost daily basis.

The level of assaults against workers is still far lower than it was ten years ago. Much of this is thanks to the joint work that unions and employers have been doing to address the issue in sectors such as health care and retail.”

TUC / Workplace Law Network

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