Monday 17th May 2021

Putting a Stop to Violence in the Workplace

Workplace violence and its impact on workers can be physically and mentally devastating. This safety news update, dated Monday 17th May 2021, highlights a fresh campaign tackling aggression on the job.

Violent or aggressive injury claims from workplace incidents range from verbal abuse and demeaning language, yelling, swearing and spitting, through to physical assault and gendered violence. Although these makeup only 2.5 percent of injury claims recorded, many incidents go unreported.

WorkSafe Victoria's New Campaign

WorkSafe Victoria has launched a fresh campaign to highlight the need for employers and communities to put a stop to workplace violence. Starting on the 17th of May, and building on the previous It's Never Ok campaign, which focussed on violence towards healthcare workers, this initiative continues the message that aggression on the job is never acceptable.

By this 17th May launch date, WorkSafe aimed to reach as many employers and workers as possible across affected sectors. The 17th marks a renewed push to protect frontline staff facing daily hostility.

Campaign Reach and Focus Areas

Coverage will appear across print media, online platforms and major television networks, showing a series of videos detailing experiences and challenges faced by real public transport workers and healthcare workers.

• Targeted inspection programs in high-risk healthcare and corrections industries
• Education and awareness campaigns reminding employers of their obligations to protect workers
• Reinforcement that violence and abuse are never "just part of the job"

For further context on this rollout, our previous Monday 10th May 2021 safety news roundup covered related developments in workplace protection standards, while our Monday 24th May 2021 update tracks how this campaign progressed. Readers following broader industry safety news should also check our Monday 31st May 2021 coverage for additional updates.

View the original article on the WorkSafe Victoria website.