Violence in Healthcare: Management of an Emerging Issue in a Sector with Several Occupational Risks

Violence in the workplace has serious consequences on the health and psychosocial well-being of the worker involved. The risk of suffering violence is one of the many professional risks in the health sector (for example, biological, chemical, physical, biomechanical, ergonomic and organizational). Several studies report that a high percentage of health workers will suffer workplace violence at least once during their professional career. Critical working conditions – such as excessive displacement, poor management and lack of balance between work and private life – can encourage violent and harassing behavior in the workplace. The European Community must guarantee prevention policies and implement measures to protect workers against violence. High levels of stress in the workplace can develop risky behavior; prevention programs must therefore be aimed at making the work environment more convivial. Furthermore, in case of violence, adequate assistance programs must be guaranteed to the victim to manage the consequences of the trauma. The promotion of safer conditions and the prevention of risk factors in the health sector play a key role in improving the quality of work and the health conditions of individual workers.