New numbers from WorkSafeBC illustrate the ongoing risk of workplace violence faced by British Columbia’s health-care workers.
The data from the workplace safety regulator show there were more than 1,800 claims of workplace violence in the health-care sector in 2023, up from just over 1,624 the year prior.
More than a third of last year’s incidents, 649, involved nurse aids, orderlies and patient service associates.
There were 525 incidents of violence against registered and licensed practical nurses and 471 against social and community service workers.
The numbers come as no surprise to Doctors of B.C.
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Association president Dr. Ahmer Karimuddin says the figures also don’t capture incidents involving physicians, who aren’t employees of B.C.’s health authorities, and likely under-represent incidents system-wide.
“Most health-care providers choose not to report in those circumstances unless there’s been something really severe that’s happened to them or they sustain a serious injury or harm,” he said.
Tanya Houghton, senior director …