Threats and violence in Healthcare and Home care: How employers can protect their staff

Violence against healthcare workers is a growing global challenge

Violence, threats and aggressive behaviour towards healthcare workers have become a major workplace safety concern across the world. From hospitals and emergency departments to home healthcare and social services, healthcare professionals increasingly face situations that can place their safety at risk.

The challenge extends beyond physical violence. Verbal abuse, intimidation, harassment and threatening behaviour can have long-term effects on employee wellbeing, staff retention and the quality of care delivered to patients. As healthcare systems face increasing pressure, protecting healthcare workers has become a critical responsibility for employers, healthcare leaders and policymakers.

How common is workplace violence in healthcare?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare workers face a significantly higher risk of workplace violence than many other professions. Studies from multiple countries indicate that between 8% and 38% of healthcare workers experience physical violence during their careers, while many more are exposed to verbal abuse, threats or harassment. Research consistently shows that violence is most common in:

• Emergency departments
• Psychiatric and mental health services
• Community healthcare
• Social services
• Long-term care facilities
• Home healthcare settings

Many incidents are never formally reported, suggesting that the true scale of the problem may be even greater.

Why home healthcare and community care present unique risks

For healthcare professionals working in hospitals, colleagues and security resources are often nearby. For those working in home healthcare, community nursing, social services or home care, the situation can be very different.

Employees frequently work alone while visiting patients or clients in environments they cannot fully control. They may encounter:

• Aggressive or distressed individuals
• Family conflicts
• Substance abuse issues
• Mental health crises
• Unpredictable behavioural situations
• Unsafe environments

Without immediate support nearby, even relatively minor incidents can escalate quickly. This makes risk assessment and lone worker protection especially important in community-based healthcare services.

The Impact of Violence on Healthcare Systems

Workplace violence affects more than individual employees.

Impact on healthcare workers

Exposure to threats or violence can contribute to:

• Stress and anxiety
• Sleep disturbances
• Reduced job satisfaction
• Burnout
• Psychological trauma

Impact on employers

Organisations may experience:

• Higher staff turnover
• Increased absenteeism
• Recruitment challenges
• Lower employee engagement
• Increased operational costs

Impact on patients

When healthcare professionals feel unsafe, patient care can also be affected through:

• Reduced continuity of care
• Increased workforce shortages
• Communication challenges
• Lower overall patient experience

Creating a safe working environment is therefore essential not only for employees but also for maintaining high-quality healthcare services.

Employer responsibilities in preventing workplace violence

Employers have a duty to identify, assess and reduce workplace risks, including those related to violence and aggression. An effective workplace violence prevention strategy should include:

• Regular risk assessments
• Clear incident reporting procedures
• Staff training and scenario-based exercises
• Post-incident support
• Lone worker policies
• Ongoing monitoring and evaluation
• Appropriate safety technologies

The most successful organisations treat workplace violence prevention as a continuous process rather than a reactive response to individual incidents.

The role of technology in healthcare worker safety

Training and workplace procedures remain the foundation of any safety programme. However, technology can provide an important additional layer of protection, particularly for employees who work alone or in remote environments.

Personal safety solutions can help staff quickly raise an alarm and request assistance during a threatening situation. When integrated into broader workplace safety procedures, these solutions can improve response times and strengthen organisational preparedness.

For organisations with mobile teams, home healthcare staff or lone workers, safety technology can play an important role in supporting both employee wellbeing and operational resilience.

Building a safer future for healthcare workers

Violence and threats in healthcare are not isolated incidents. They are a global workplace safety challenge that requires leadership, preparation and long-term commitment. By combining risk assessments, staff training, clear procedures and effective safety solutions, healthcare organisations can create safer working environments and better support the people who care for others every day.

Protecting healthcare workers is not only a legal and ethical responsibility; it is essential for the future of healthcare itself.