New initiative aims to combat violence in the workplace

Violence is the fifth-highest cause of workplace injuries in Saskatchewan. On Thursday, the Saskatchewan Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and the Saskatchewan Association of Safe Workplaces in Health (SASWH) announced a provincewide initiative to address it.

“Workers shouldn’t go to work and feel threatened by violence,” Shelly McFadden, director of prevention at the WCB, said in a news release. “That’s why the WCB is partnering in this violence prevention initiative.”

In 2016, 936 claims were reported to the WCB due to violence. The WCB identified the top five sectors where acts of violence and aggression happened — health care, social services, education, hospitality and policing and corrections. The top five causes of injury by violence acts were done by health-care patients or residents of a health-care facility, other people, dogs, prison inmates and students.

The WCB and SASWH presented the initiative to leaders in key industries at a meeting in Regina on Thursday. The Provincial Violence Prevention Framework includes a tool kit that will be piloted in facilities in Saskatchewan health regions. Tools include information, training, manuals, web content and videos for employers and workers.

“Violence in the workplace, whether it is a physical attack or psychological or verbal violence, is a threat to Saskatchewan workers, and a growing problem for supervisors and employers,” Sandra Cripps, chief executive of SASWH, said in the release. “The emotional cost of violence in the workplace is far higher than any estimated financial cost.”

The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour has said it is supportive. “Everyone has the right to a safe and healthy workplace. This initiative is an important step to raising awareness about the issue of violence in order to prevent these injuries,” said Lori Johb, chair of the SASWH board of directors and SFL secretary-treasurer. Postmedia News