Physical Harassment At Workplace

Controls for physical harassment at workplace level are strongest when built into how work is arranged, rather than added as rules people have to remember.

Staffing. Two people rostered where the risk is known, particularly at night and in isolated areas. The single most effective control and the one most often cut first.

Layout. Sight lines, lighting, an exit route that is not blocked by the person you are dealing with, and counters positioned sensibly.

Alcohol at events. Limits, food, finish times, and someone named as responsible rather than everyone assuming somebody is.

Authority to withdraw. Staff explicitly permitted to end an interaction, and a manager who visibly supports that decision afterwards.

The last one costs nothing and fails most often, because it depends on what happens the first time it is used.

Safe Work Australia covers the risk management duty. This is general information rather than legal advice, and obligations vary by state and territory.

See Sentrient’s occupational violence and aggression training and work health and safety course.