A survey of Queensland Health workers by the Australian Workers' Union has revealed the massive extent of violence in our public hospitals, with the union calling on politicians to act on the issue.
The survey has revealed that close to 70% of staff have either been assaulted or witnessed an assault in the workplace.
The survey was conducted between January and April this year and received 1,279 responses, representing the views of workers from 114 Queensland Health facilities across the State.
AWU Queensland Secretary Stacey Schinnerl said that Queensland Health is not giving workplace violence the attention it deserves.
"Our frontline health workers deserve to feel safe in the workplace, but right now our public hospitals are anything but safe," Ms Schinnerl said.
"The rate of violence being reported by staff wouldn't be acceptable in any other sector."
The key issues identified by workers include a lack of protective equipment for security and staff, training that isn't fit for purpose and a deficit of security staff in hospitals across the State.
Ms Schinnerl said that workers are putting forward five common-sense measures to Government that would help mitigate the violence they are experiencing.
"Our entire workplace health and safety system is built on the premise that workers know best when it comes to their safety at work,"
"Our members have put together a common-sense plan to address the violence they are experiencing in their workplace,"
"We will be putting this plan to Government, Queensland Health and members of Parliament this week - it's time for our politicians to work together and act on this issue."
