Violence at Work (UK)

Do your own personal 'Risk Assessment' of your duties

Try to picture yourself in different parts of your workplace and ask yourself:

• What would you do if someone becomes abusive and threatening towards you?

• How would you react if somebody becomes physically violent to you - or someone else?

• Who would help you?

• In "real time" terms how far away is Police / Security assistance?

• Can you rely on other employees helping meanwhile?

• To what extent?

• How likely are such incidents to happen?

• Could the risks be reduced?

• How?

If the exercise raises (or confirms) concerns, inform your line manager / safety representative without delay.

Ask for advice and make your suggestions for safety improvement / risk reduction.

If you have serious concerns that still remain after reporting to your line manager / safety representative, put the report in writing to make it official.

Do I have to do dangerous work?

Nobody can insist you perform work you think is unsafe.

You have a legal right (S44 Employment Rights Act 1996) to withdraw from dangerous situations - and stay away while the danger remains (on full pay).

So, make your own mind up, based on what an "ordinary cautious person" would do.

(Remember, if you carry on working, you are in effect consenting to take the risk and may be forfeiting your right to compensation if you get injured.)

If you believe the risk is serious, imminent and something which you could not avert - don't do the work.

Never be persuaded by the behaviour of other colleagues, or explanations like "Well this is the way we've always done things".

Go to a 'place of safety' immediately and report the matter straight away. Its what the law expects you to do and its also what everybody else is depending on you to do.

Remember, you have a duty to draw attention to shortcomings in safety arrangements where their existence represents a danger to others. (No-one expects people to be working in recognisably dangerous conditions. If you see people working - and you are not told its unsafe - you assume it is safe. For Example: Hospitals, Air passenger transport, Care Homes, Nightclubs, Schools, Colleges etc.)