Prevention and management of violence and aggression in health services

What it contains

OVA happens when a person is abused, threatened or assaulted in work-related situations. This is common in the healthcare industry and can result in physical, psychological injuries and death. This document outlines the occupational health and safety duties of healthcare employers. It covers topics such as:

• what kind of OVA health services workers experience
• an employer’s legal responsibilities to reduce or eliminate these risks
• how to review, build and implement strategies to prevent and manage OVA
• how to establish and maintain employee safety and security through appropriate facilities, work spaces, building services and systems
• how to develop and implement an OVA prevention policy for an organisation, including making each person’s roles and responsibilities clear
• who to consult when developing your OVA prevention policy
• how to provide OVA training

At the end of the document, there is:

• a list of further information and relevant resources
• a range of tools you can use to prevent and manage OVA in your organisation