b'Advertorial AdvertorialWHAT WEVE LEARNED ABOUT WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTIONHenrietta Van hulle RN, BN, MHSM, COHN(c), CRSP, CDMPWorkplace violence continues to be one ofThe reasons driving healthcare organiza- by better preparing our sta to watch out the most pressing concerns facing workers,tionstoimplementthetoolkitslargelyforandaddresstheseaggressive patients, residents and clients across ourrevolvedaroundtwomajorthemes:behaviours, such as with training, patient healthcare sector. According to the Associ- concernsovermountingincidentsandaggingandalerts,explainsaDirector ation of Workers Compensation Boards ofenforcementevents.Ourorganizationfromoneofthecasestudysites.So, Canada, healthcare received 18% of totaldecided to apply these tools as we saw ouralthough the frequency of violent attempts lost-time injury claims in Canada in 2017 incidents of violence on the rise and weor incidents has not decreased as of yet, more than any other industry. In Ontariowanted to have a better grasp on what ourwehaveseentheseverityofviolent alone,violent-relatedincidentsmadeupgaps were so that we could reduce theseincidents reduced.10% of all lost-time injury claims in hospi- incidents in frequency and severity, as one PUNCHED$23 million that same year. PublicServicesLabour,TrainingandSkillsDevelopmentoptimizeandimprovethecurrentve tals in 2015, costing these institutions overregional hospital explains. The Ministry ofTheevaluationresultswillbeusedto had also made this a priority focus. TheyVARB toolkits as well as inform the devel-Between2015and2017,performedseveralinspectionsusingopment of the next four VARB toolkits, set Health&SafetyAssociation(PSHSA)PSHSAs tools. Using these tools helped usto be released in 2020. The new toolkits developed a series of free tools in partner- tobewell-preparedforthesevisitsandwillfocusonIncidentReportingand shipwithstakeholdersacrosshealthcareallowed us to have a better organized plan,Investigation, Patient Transit, Code White, and labour to support workplaces in reduc- responseanddocumentedstrategytoand Work Refusals. ing and preventing the risk of workplacereduce violence in the workplace.violence.TheViolence,AggressionandWhilethepositiveresultsarecertainly ResponsiveBehaviours(VARB)toolkitsThe study also found that the toolkits hadencouraging, there is still work to be done. focus on: Workplace Violence Risk Assess- apositiveimpactonhowhealthcareThis is especially true given that reported ment,IndividualClientRiskAssessment,organizationspreventandmanageincidentsareexpectedtospikeinthe RiskCommunication(Flagging),Securityworkplace violence. 89% reported that useimmediate future as awareness around the Violence Towards andPersonalSafetyResponseSystem.of the toolkits ended up improving theirissue increases and healthcare workers are Thesetoolkitsweredesignedforuseinprocesses,programsandsystemstofurtherencouragedtoreport.Continued long-term care, community care, hospitalsprevent and manage workplace violence.partnershipandcollaborationamong Long-Term Care Workersand emergency medical services to protectThe VARB toolkits were used most often tosystemstakeholders,includinggovern-those workers most at risk of workplaceidentify and address safety risks, considerment,labour,professionalassociations, violence,includingnurses,nursesaids,safety proactively in planning, and validatepatientadvocates,andrepresentatives otheralliedhealthcaresta,communityor improve existing practices.fromacute,community,homeand Can Be Prevented andsocialserviceworkers,andvisitingThe evaluation credited the VARB toolkitslong-termcareisintegral.Wewillalso home care workers.need to continue advancing public aware-strong uptake to their high quality and theness of the issue of workplace violence in Each toolkit includes step-by-step preven- endorsement from the Ontario Ministry ofhealthcare, and encourage adoption and Together, we can do more to keep your workers safetion strategies, customizable elements andLabour, Training and Skills Development.ongoinguseofavailableandvalidated avarietyofsupportmaterialstoenableKey factors contributing to the eective- prevention resources and supports. robustworkplaceviolenceprogramness of the toolkits were their credibility,from workplace violence. planningandimplementation.Organiza- comprehensiveness, exibility, ease of useOur healthcare systems greatest asset are tionswithexistingworkplaceviolenceand the collaborative stakeholder engage- the committed, skilled and compassionate prevention program can also use the toolsment approach that was employed duringindividuals that dedicate their careers to We have the tools and resources to help. to evaluate or enhance program compo- design and development. thecareofothers.Letsattainafuture nents. where violent incidents arent status quo, Whileitwilltakemoretimetovalidateandshifttheculturesothathealthcare An evidence-based evaluation was recentlywhetherimplementationoftheVARBworkers come to expect protection, safety workplace-violence.ca completed to better understand the VARBtoolkits has resulted in an overall reductionand security in the workplace.toolkits awareness, impact and eective- in incidents, some participating healthcare ness on workplace violence prevention andorganizations are already seeing positiveTo access the VARB toolkits and controls.Thestudyfoundthat75%ofshifts in this direction. While some violentresources, and to stay up-to-date those surveyed were aware of at least oneincidents continue, such as patients withon this project, visit of the toolkits, and that 67% are using atcognitive disruptions acting out on sta least one of them within their organization. we have been able to reduce our risk levelswww.workplace-violence.ca.'