Guides & Toolkits

39 300-AQ0-01-IGDO © 2019, Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS) 1 877 494 WSPS (9777) | 905 614 1400 | www.wsps.ca 35 Developing Workplace Violence and Harassment Policies and Programs: A Toolbox This assessment can be useful to workplaces where workers are providing services or products to persons with physiological, psychological, or psychiatric conditions, or substance abuse issues. Examples of workers providing services or products to this population include caregivers, parole officers, police, corrections officers, youth officers, social service workers, and receptionists. Examples of activities include: • Providing a service to persons with physiological, psychological, or psychiatric conditions, or substance abuse issues • Providing a service that involves physical contact with clients who may be unpredictable due to influences outside the workplace You are not required to use all or any of the examples of controls. There may be other controls that are more suitable to the circumstances of your workplace and to controlling the risks of workplace violence that you identify. Assessment for Specific Risk: Working with Unstable or Volatile Clients (VC) Physical Yes No N/A Examples of Controls Existing Controls Recommended Controls Environment (identify person(s) responsible and expected completion dates, if possible) VC1. Do clients have direct physical access to workers? VC2. Can workers call for immediate help when workplace violence occurs or is likely to occur? Job / Department/ Location: Completed by: Date: Shading indicates elevated risk Consider the following measures: • Making reception areas visible to other workers and to the outside • Having counters built wide enough or with barriers to prevent clients from having physical access to workers See VC3 (restricting non-worker access within the workplace) for more information. Measures and procedures could include: • providing equipment to summon assistance, such as individual or fixed alarms (sounding or silent) or cell phones (pre-programmed to call an emergency number) • providing GPS tracking devices or other locating devices • providing internal and external numbers for workers to call • at all hours of operations • posted or otherwise readily available • establishing an internal code word or words to indicate that help is needed WSPS.CA

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