People working for the Eastern Health Board will be able to get expert help if they are subjected to violence at work, under a new policy launched yesterday.
This is one of a number of initiatives announced by the board aimed at making its workplaces safer, free from bullying and harassment and smoke-free.
The board's chief executive, Mr Pat McLoughlin, said that its policy on smoking went beyond the legal requirements of the Tobacco Regulations.
As well as complying with these regulations, it aimed to minimise the exposure of staff and clients to tobacco smoke, to encourage employees to stop smoking and to promote a decrease in smoking generally.
"It is board policy to respect the preferences of both smokers and non-smokers, but when these conflict the preferences of the non-smoker will prevail," he said. There would be a three-month preparation and consultation period before the policies were introduced, he said.
Referring to the board's policy on violence, he said it was essential that staff members affected by a violent incident received full support.
New guidelines on post-incident response to violence in the workplace are being circulated, aimed at staff, supervisors and managers.
A critical incident stress debriefing service is being introduced to help the victims of serious incidents. This involves the training of volunteers in debriefing those involved. This usually entails a once-off session, which takes place one to three days after the event. Normal trauma reactions are discussed and avenues of future support and self-help are clarified. About 20 staff members will be selected to provide the service on a volunteer basis.
Asked how many violent incidents occurred involving EHB staff, personnel officer Ms Mary Kelly said it was not uncommon in psychiatric hospitals and accident emergency departments of EHB hospitals. "People here would be prone to attacks from people attending who have violent tendencies," she said.
There were "not too many" reports as yet of attacks on social workers, though our society was moving in a direction where this could become more common, and this trend would also affect other field workers, like community welfare officers, she said.
An anti-bullying policy was also launched yesterday. "Bullying or harassment can damage the health and well-being of individuals and groups of staff. Neither will be tolerated in our board and if they occur will be dealt with under disciplinary procedures," said Mr McLoughlin.