Workplace violence can have a significant impact on the physical and psychological health and safety of workers.
You can help build a safer workplace
K-12 schools are unique and complex workplaces, and both the number of claims and the injury rate related to workplace violence in K-12 schools rose steadily between 2015 and 2019.
Workers may interact with people who do not yet have the capacity to understand that their behaviour could cause physical and/or psychological injury to others. All workers, supervisors, and employers have a responsibility to help prevent workplace violence in schools.
We know that:
- Reporting violence will help prevent future workplace violence in schools
- Responding to an incident of workplace violence will help to prevent future incidents
- Re-evaluating prevention practices helps minimize the risk of workplace violence
Watch this video for a message from leaders in the K-12 sector about preventing workplace violence in schools.
Supporting schools through partnerships
To support schools in their efforts to prevent workplace violence, we have established a working group with our K-12 sector partners to develop and raise awareness of resources and tools tailored to school settings. Our partners include: BC Public School Employers’ Association (BCPSEA), BC Principals’ and Vice Principals’ Association (BCPVPA), BC School Superintendent’s Association (BCSSA), BC Teachers’ Federation (BCTF), Canadian Union of Public Employees British Columbia (CUPE BC), School Safety Association of BC (SSABC), and occupational health and safety specialists representing both rural and urban school districts.
Access violence prevention tools and resources developed collaboratively by our K-12 sector partners.
Additional resources
Poster series
- Responsibilities to help prevent workplace violence
- Responding to workplace violence
- Reporting workplace violence
- Re-evaluating prevention practices