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Workplace Violence affecting cleaners
Violence is a major occupational health and safety issue. Violence is often random and unpredictable. Many of
these types of incident could be avoided or minimised if safe systems of work are in place.
Violence includes:
verbal and emotional threats, and
physical attack to an individual’s person or property by another individual or group.
The level of fear an individual feels and the way they respond during and after a violent act relates to their own
experiences, skills and personality.
Violence toward cleaners on client premises often occurs after hours and is related to robberies or dug related
offences. It is often carried out be drug affected individuals.
Violent acts include:
Verbal abuse
Threats of a sexual nature
Threats of violence
Physical or sexual assault
Violent behaviour can escalate from intimidatory body language, to verbal threats and to physical threats or assault.