B.C. workplace violence claims see increase since 2018: WorkSafeBC

Workplace violence appears to be on the rise in British Columbia, with WorkSafeBC reporting a 25 per cent increase in such claims since 2018.

The oversight body says there were 2,292 claims for workplace violence in 2018, which increased to 2,868 in 2022.

News release: Violent incidents in the workplace have increased 25% since 2018. We’re reminding employers to have policies and procedures in place to protect workers from the risk of violence, and to provide instruction to workers. Read the release here: https://t.co/NDp4G26QgQ pic.twitter.com/njdJ9zupv0

— WorkSafeBC (@WorkSafeBC) March 31, 2023

Barry Nakahara, senior manager of Prevention Field Services at WorkSafeBC, says it’s tough to say what has led to the rise in claims but he adds it is a concerning trend.

“It is an issue that we need to pay attention to and we need employers and workers to start having this discussion, perhaps a little more openly as to what can be done to reduce this risk and prevent this and protect our workers,” he told CityNews.

Health care and social services, Nakahara says, are the industries with the most claims for violence by a “longshot.” Education, hospitality, and tourism are other sectors that have also seen an uptick in reports. Another area that sees a higher risk of workplace violence is people who work late-night hours.

Nakahara says in a lot of these industries, confrontation is acknowledged as being part of the job.

“In some industries, it might have been accepted to some degree,” he explained. “You need to make sure the risk is well-communicated, the efforts that you’re putting in place to prevent it are well-communicated and monitored to ensure they remain effective.”

Maddie Beaumont, a registered nurse since 2015, says she’s experienced and seen her share of violence at work.

“People can get punched in the face, in the E.R. and that kind of stuff. So it happens. Violence is very real. Of course, like, I don’t really know a nurse that hasn’t experienced some sort of verbal attack in their career.”

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Nakahara adds that claims for workplace violence may be underreported, as the impact of an incident may not manifest itself until much later.

“Many times, these incidents and threats of violence don’t cause direct injury, but they can certainly have a psychological impact on workers,” he said. “We need to be cognizant of the broader impacts that has on the individual and the workplace in general.”

If you feel like you may be a victim of workplace violence, Nakahara recommends you report it to your employer as soon as possible.

“That’s how the process gets started, both in terms of whether it goes down the path of a claim in the future but also, equally importantly, ensuring steps can be taken to mitigate it,” he said.