Physical Harassment At Work

Physical harassment at work is not evenly distributed. It concentrates where specific conditions exist, and those conditions are about the work rather than the people.

• Lone work. No witnesses, no immediate help, and a reduced likelihood of anything being reported.
• Night and early shifts. Thin staffing and less supervision.
• Alcohol. On the premises, at work functions, or in customers.
• Distressed or unwell clients. Health, aged care, disability and emergency settings.
• Cash and valuables on site. Retail, hospitality and transport.

Where two or more overlap, the risk multiplies rather than adds. A lone worker on a night shift with alcohol involved is a different proposition from any one of those alone.

Controls belong at the condition rather than at the individual, which is why rostering decisions do more here than any amount of behaviour training.

Safe Work Australia covers occupational violence. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s occupational violence and aggression training and risk management system.