Implementation of workplace violence legislation in Ontario hospitals
Reasons for the study
Health-care workers experience high rates of work-related violence, including physical abuse and harassment. Workplace violence legislation under Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) directs employers to adopt measures to reduce the risk of workplace violence, yet inspections conducted by the Ministry of Labour demonstrated a number of inadequacies with respect to implementing these measures. IWH researchers used a multiple case-study design to examine the conditions that support and limit the successful implementation of legislated requirements for the prevention of workplace violence in Ontario’s acute health-care sector.
Objectives of the study
- To examine the measures organizations use to address workplace violence, as well as the perceptions of how these measures play out in practice
- To understand decisions made about implementation strategies and processes used to prevent violence
- To identify contextual factors (internal and external to the workplace) that have supported or challenged implementation of violence prevention policies and practices
- To gain input about ongoing challenges associated with the prevention of workplace violence and strategies for improvement
Related scientific publications
- Kosny A, Tonima S, Ferron EM, Mustard C, Robson LS, Gignac MA, Chambers A, Hajee Y. Implementing violence prevention legislation in hospitals: final report. Institute for Work & Health; 2018.
- Kosny A, Tonima S, Ferron EM, Mustard C, Robson LS, Gignac MA, Chambers A. Implementing violence prevention legislation in hospitals: summary. Institute for Work & Health; 2017.
Related interviews and articles
- Violence prevention efforts face challenges despite commitment from hospital leaders. At Work: Institute for Work & Health; No. 92, Spring 2018.
IWH Speaker Series presentations
- Reporting and consequences of workplace violence in six Ontario hospitals. IWH Speaker Series. May 22, 2018.
Project status
Completed 2017
Research team
Collaborators and partners
- Ontario Hospitals Association
- Ontario Nurses’ Association
- Working Groups of the Leadership Table on Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care
Funded by
Ontario Ministry of Labour