Bullying and Harassment Prevention Tool Kit – continued from page 10


requirements include developing workplace safety policy statements and creating procedures for responding to bullying complaints. Employees are also expected to be trained to recognize, respond to and deal with bullying and harassment incidents in the workplace. The toolkit includes animated clips that can be used for training, a handbook on preventing and addressing workplace bullying and harassment, posters for the workplace and a small business guide. There's growing evidence that exposure to bullying and harassment in the workplace has serious negative outcomes. It can take many forms, including verbal aggression, personal attacks, and other intimidating or humiliating behaviours.


Read more Post-Accident Safety Fixes: An Admission of Liability?


Will post-accident fixes or improvements by an employer be held against them if occupational health and safety charges are laid? For example, if an employer puts a guard on a machine after an employee was injured on the machine, will the court see the installation of the guard as an admission that the machine was not properly guarded? Employers sometimes feel that they are caught between implementing the fix and risking having it be seen as an admission of liability, or not implementing the fix and risking a higher fine if convicted or being charged with violating a government order to fix the machine. Of course, most employers will be motivated to do what is right and install a fix if needed for safety reasons, regardless of whether that increases the risk of charges or fines; however, the possible risks should be considered. In some cases, quick implementation of the safety fix could actually help avoid charges. It appears that post-accident safety fixes will, generally, not be considered an admission that an employer violated a safety rule, but may be considered by a court in determining whether the employer exercised due diligence or had knowledge of the hazard. Post-accident fixes will also often lead to lower fines if a company is convicted of a safety offence, as the court will see the employer‘s proactive safety fix as a sign of the employer‘s commitment to safety.


Read more IRELAND: Emergency Workers Attacked „Every 30 Hours‟


One frontline emergency worker providing vital help to the public is assaulted once every 30 hours — the highest rate in half a decade. New Department of Justice (DOJ) figures show ambulance, hospital, garda, and fire brigade staff suffer physical abuse every day despite the essential support they give to those in need. However, the rate is believed to be far higher as sources have warned many cases go unreported. While the DOJ said the figures are ―provisional‖, as it takes time for cases to pass through the courts, the details also show only a small percentage of the most recent cases lead to convictions. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is creating new approaches for the management of aggression and violence in the workplace, which will form part of a national policy document being developed. As part of this process, 497 unit managers were surveyed by the HSE on risk assessment and control measures, as well as the training for managing violence and aggression. Violence against healthcare staff has been flagged as a problem for almost a decade, with ambulance personnel and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation repeatedly raising the issue as a major cause of concern to them.


Read more SINGAPORE:


Bullying: The Hidden Problem in the Workplace


Recently, the boss of a local IT firm was filmed hitting an employee repeatedly on the head while also verbally abusing him. The victim joined the firm three years ago as an intern and was paid $500 a month, with no benefits or leave days. His family reported that he often returned home late and turned up at work even when he was ill for fear of offending the supervisor. Since the public outcry, a few former employees of the firm have also stepped up to report the same office bully for his abusive behaviour towards them. While it is easy to write this incident off as


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