The Society's joint campaign to stop violence in the workplace was officially launched at the 20th National Hazards Conference 2009 in Manchester on 10 July.

Lyn Wigley, the SoR's health and safety officer, Paul Bromley, regional officer of the SoR and Lee Attwood, regional officer for the Community District Nursing Association (CDNA), unveiled the campaign to delegates from all industries around Europe.

In association with the CDNA, the Society has published a number of resources which will be distributed to members. These include:

• An A5 Personal Safety at Work handbook;
• Four different posters each depicting the 'true face' of violence in the workplace;
• Business card size information highlighting personal safety, contact numbers which can be carried in a wallet or purse;
• Letters to lobby your local MP.

Violence, aggression and abuse in the workplace continues to be a serious problem for NHS staff and other lone workers up and down the country. According to recent data*, 12% of NHS workers suffered physical violence from patients or patients’ relatives in the past year. And the fear of violence and abusive behaviour, particularly among lone workers, is a greater problem still.

Speaking at the launch, Lyn Wigley commented: "A number of delegates commented that this type of crime is unheard of, adding that they assumed the NHS protected its employees. How mis-informed could they be?

"Another delegate explained that, whilst companies and managers have policies designed to protect their staff, little or nothing was done to implement such policies. That’s just the type of attitude the campaign is designed to halt. We want our members to return home every evening safe and well, not the victim of a non reported crime.

"Both the SoR and CDNA encourage all those who are victims of violence at work to report any crime. All members are protected by legislation, and your employer is duty bound to act upon it.”

Get behind the campaign and download the resources today! Click here for more.

* Healthcare Commission’s sixth annual survey of NHS staff.

Posted: 10/07/2009