National Performance Goal #2a
Preventing Workplace Violence

In 2022, Joint Commission issued new and revised consensus-based standards that implement a framework for effective hospital workplace violence prevention systems.

Workplace violence is defined by Joint Commission as “an act or threat occurring at the workplace that can include any of the following: verbal, nonverbal, written, or physical aggression; threatening, intimidating, harassing, or humiliating words or actions; bullying; sabotage; sexual harassment; physical assaults; or other behaviors of concern involving staff, licensed practitioners, patients, or visitors.”

The Workplace Violence Prevention standards require that hospitals:

• Have a workplace violence prevention program led by a designated individual and developed by a multidisciplinary team
• As part of its workplace violence prevention program, provide training, education, and resources to staff and leadership at time of hire and regularly
• Establish policies and processes to:
• Prevent and respond to violence
• Report incidents to analyze incidents and trends
• Follow up and support victims and witnesses
• Report workplace violence to the governing body
• Complete a worksite analysis and take actions to mitigate or resolve the workplace safety and security risks based upon findings

Since January 2022, Joint Commission has cited hospitals on more than one hundred requirements for improvement related to workplace violence standards during survey activities and required correction within 60 days. Joint Commission published several Sentinel Event Alerts to raise awareness about workplace violence.

Gina Malfeo-Martin, MSN, PMH-BC
Joint Commission, Director Standards Development & Interpretation

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