Safe Work Australia Highlights Rising Workplace Violence and Aggression

The following is an abridgement of an article originally published by SafeWork Australia.

Safe Work Australia has released a new report examining the alarming rise of workplace and work-related violence in Australia. The data of this report has been built from the previous Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace Report, whilst also using data from the ABS and the People at Work survey.

Here are some key findings from the report:

• Over the past five years, there has been a 56% increase in serious workers’ compensation claims related to assault and exposure to workplace violence.
• While workplace violence has historically been a significant issue for men, the report shows a 73% rise in physical violence claims made by women, compared to a 33% increase for men over the last decade.
• Clients and customers were identified as the most common source of work-related violence, highlighting the importance of addressing external sources of aggression.

You can access the full report here.

The most common incidents of angry or hostile behaviour were shouting, swearing, intimidation, and insults. Although many may consider these behaviours to be less severe than physical violence, they still pose a significant risk, especially when occurring frequently and for prolonged periods of time.

Safe Work Australia advises that employers and Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs) should engage with workers to address these hazards. Implementing effective measures to prevent and respond to workplace violence is crucial for protecting worker safety and wellbeing.

These findings provide valuable insights, which help to better understand and manage the risks of violence and aggression in the workplace.

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