News

The impact of workplace violence on the health-care industry is enormous, exacting a heavy financial toll, according to a 2006 survey by the Workers' Compensation Board of British Columbia:

INJURY CLAIMS

• Nine per cent of all B.C. health-care workers' accepted claims are due to violence.
• More than half of the accepted B.C. claims for health-care workers are from nurses aides and licensed practical nurses.
• One in five of the accepted B.C. claims for health-care workers, due to violence in the workplace, is from registered nurses.

COSTS

• $24-million was spent from 2002 to 2006 in workers compensation claims involving violence against health-care workers, including physicians, nurses, care aides, pharmacists, housekeeping staff, technicians and administration.
• 162,934 days were lost in 2006 due to accepted claims of violence against health-care workers in B.C.
• Fourteen B.C. health workers were injured every week in 2006, as recorded in accepted violence claims.

WORKERS' BODY PARTS MOST OFTEN HURT IN ATTACKS

• Arms, including wrists, fingers and elbows: 27 per cent
• Backs and shoulders: 25 per cent
• Head, including neck, face, eyes, ears and scalp: 14 per cent

Source: WorkSafeBC, Statistical Services