Most people think of violence as a physical assault. However, workplace violence is a much broader problem. It is any act in which a person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted in his or her employment. Workplace violence includes:

• threatening behaviour: such as shaking fists, destroying property or throwing objects.
• verbal or written threats: any expression of an intent to inflict harm.
• harassment: any behaviour that demeans, embarrasses, humiliates, annoys, alarms or verbally abuses a person and that is known or would be expected to be unwelcome. This includes words, gestures, intimidation, bullying, or other inappropriate activities.
• verbal abuse: swearing, insults or condescending language.
• physical attacks: hitting, shoving, pushing or kicking.

Rumours, swearing, verbal abuse, pranks, arguments, property damage, vandalism, sabotage, pushing, theft, physical assaults, psychological trauma, anger-related incidents, rape, arson, and murder are all examples of workplace violence.

Workplace violence is not limited to incidents that occur within a traditional workplace. Work-related violence can occur at off-site business-related functions (conferences, trade shows), at social events related to work, in clients' homes or away from work but resulting from work (a threatening telephone call to your home from a client).

Resources

• Negative Interactions
• Parking Lot Safety
• Warning Signs
• Working Late

Preventing Workplace Violence presentation (.pptx) 

Acadia's policy on violence in the workplace (PDF) 

Managing Disruption in the Classroom (.pptx) 

Contact

Occupational Health and Safety
ohs@acadiau.ca
(902) 585-1199