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If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please email us at mutualrespect@uhn.ca
Since early 2023, the UHN Workplace Violence Prevention Advisory Committee (WPVPAC) – a cross-functional team of subject matter experts led by Mark Spencer, VP, People & Culture and Marnie Escaf, VP, Clinical – has been diligently working on taking an organization-wide approach to enhancing UHN's workplace violence prevention strategy.
Our Vision
At UHN, our priority is to ensure every patient, visitor, and member of TeamUHN feels safe, secure, and supported during their time at the hospital. We know that safety is essential to healing, caring, and working with compassion. While we've made meaningful strides in preventing workplace violence, we remain focused on continuous improvement. Through teamwork, vigilance, and proactive action, we are working every day to ensure that UHN is a place where everyone feels protected and cared for.
TeamUHN plays a central role in addressing incidents in an improved culture of reporting. With new incident reporting systems being rolled out to help make this process more user-friendly and faster, we have streamlined all workplace violence debriefing by increasing collaborations between our clinical departments, UHN Safety Services, UHN Security Operations, UHN Emergency Preparedness and the UHN Code White Governance Committee.
To help achieve this vision and build upon the foundations laid by the Workplace Violence Prevention Advisory Committee (WPVPAC), UHN has rolled out a comprehensive Multi-Pronged Approach to address workplace violence at an organizational level.
UHN #MutualRespect Strategy
The UHN #MutualRespect Strategy is our comprehensive approach to preventing workplace violence, consisting of 19 targeted initiatives across six functional units: Security Operations, Safety Services, the Code White Governance Committee, Social Medicine, Professional Practice, and Emergency Preparedness. This cross-functional collaboration reflects UHN's commitment to fostering a safer, more respectful workplace for all staff, patients and visitors.
For further information on our #MutualRespect strategy to address workplace violence at UHN, please see the following article:
News, Updates & Upcoming Projects
The Workplace Violence Prevention Team is developing an AI-powered reporting tool to help address underreporting of workplace violence incidents. Many incidents go unreported due to the time, effort, or complexity involved in current reporting processes.
To make reporting easier and more accessible, we're developing a chatbot that enables staff to quickly and securely report workplace violence incidents. This tool is part of a broader effort to foster a culture of safety, reduce administrative burden, and ensure consistency across reporting.
UHN Security Operations is implementing a personal panic alarm system in our emergency departments to enhance staff safety and support rapid response to workplace violence incidents. This system will enable staff to alert UHN Security personnel when they feel unsafe, allowing for faster, more targeted interventions. As part of our broader commitment to creating a safer work environment, this initiative supports staff wellbeing and ensures timely support during high-risk situations.
UHN security personnel now wear body cameras to document incidents and strengthen a culture of safety and accountability. Piloted at Toronto General Hospital in 2022, this intervention has been effective in reducing aggression and the severity of workplace violence incidents.
Since implementation, UHN Security has observed that the presence of these devices serves as an effective de-escalation tool for patients and visitors. Research evaluating the impact and utilization of wearable devices such as body cameras is underway.
How Have We Addressed Workplace Violence in Health Care?
The UHN Workplace Violence Prevention team has taken a comprehensive approach to addressing workplace violence in health Care. Key strategies include implementing a Code White system with detailed protocols for preparedness, staffing, employee training, activation, response, management, escalation, and resolution. We also utilize data monitoring through a Workplace Violence Dashboard to track Code White statistics and incident reporting. Furthermore, enhanced security measures, wearable devices, and the UHN TIDES program focusing on de-escalation and safety training demonstrate a multi-faceted effort to mitigate and manage workplace violence.
Environmental Indicators
90.2% of ED staff supported the implementation of environmental indicators across UHN (n=106).
Increased Security Presence in the ED
89.1% of ED staff reported that UHN Security enhanced their sense of safety (n=103).
Workplace Violence Dashboard
17 evidence-based quality indicators to monitor workplace violence and inform leadership decision making.