Aga Khan University Hospital

Title: Workplace Violence

Department / Division: Safety & Security Department

Approved By: Document No.: S&S-SEC-PP-031

Issuance Date: September 01, 2003
Revision Date: February 24, 2016
Director Safety and Revision No.: 04
Security
Prepared By: Manager, Sec. Ops.

Total Pages: Page 1 of 5

1. Purpose:
1.1. A safe and secure environment is a fundamental prerequisite for fulfilling the
mission of Aga Khan University (AKU), i.e., to provide quality patient-care,
healthy work environment, and leadership in research and education. AKU
will provide a means of addressing instances of workplace violence.
1.2. The Aga Khan University (AKU) is committed to the prevention of workplace
violence and the maintenance of a respectful, congenial and safe working
environment. Acts or threats of physical violence, including intimidation and
harassment or coercion, which affect AKU or which occur on its premises,
will be firmly addressed as per the provisions of this policy.
1.3. This prohibition against threats and acts of violence applies to all persons
involved, including but not limited to AKU faculty and staff, patients, visitors,
students, volunteers and contract/temporary staff. Therefore, violation of this
policy by any individual on AKU premises is considered misconduct and will
lead to disciplinary and/or legal action as appropriate.
1.4. No reprisals will be taken against any faculty, staff, student and volunteer
who reports or experiences workplace violence.

2. Scope:
2.1. This policy applies to all AKU faculty, staff, students, volunteers and also
covers incidents involving patients, attendants and visitors.

3. Responsibility:
3.1. Department Managers, Section Heads and Supervisors
3.1.1. Familiarize faculty and staff with the University’s Workplace Violence
Policy;
3.1.2. Ensure faculty and staff participation in training programs on
workplace violence;
 3.1.3. Evaluate any alleged threat by assessing its perceived intent and the
capacity and means to fulfill the threat. Factors to consider include the
nature of the threat, duration of risk, and likelihood that harm will
occur;
3.1.4. Investigate/resolve workplace violence incidents involving AKU
employees in his/her area;
3.1.5. Activate Crises Assessment Team by inviting Safety and Security and
concerned representative from Personnel or Clinical Affairs;
3.1.6. Participate in the Crises Assessment Team when required;
3.1.7. Implement corrective/preventive action plan as proposed by the
Crises Assessment Team.
3.2. Faculty, Staff, Students and Volunteers
3.2.1. Be aware of the AKU Workplace Violence Policy;
3.2.2. Report violations of the policy to an appropriate administrator (e.g.,
immediate Supervisor, Department Head, Personnel Department,
Safety and Security Department);
3.2.3. Participate in workplace violence training programs.
3.2.4. Familiarize yourself to Code 10 and Code 10 Alpha to seek
assistance from Security Control.
3.3. Safety and Security Department
3.3.1. Restore order in a conflict situation;
3.3.2. Enforce criminal law by involving law-enforcing agencies if required;
3.3.3. Provide staff to lead Crisis Assessment Team;
3.3.4. Summon police if the situation/parties go beyond their control as per
institutional policy guidelines;
3.3.5. Provide periodic data/analysis on Workplace Violence Incidents to
AKU Safety Committee;
3.3.6. Include risk of workplace violence in the Safety and Security Annual
Risk Analysis of AKU.
3.3.7. Be prepared to respond to Code or Code 10 Alpha to mitigate a
situation.
3.4. Crisis Assessment Team
3.4.1. Assess and manage incidents involving imminent danger or violence;
3.4.2. Determine appropriate action to assist the affected unit/department;
3.4.3. Conduct an investigation as appropriate;
3.4.4. Develop corrective/preventive action plan.
3.5. AKU Safety Committee
3.5.1. Review periodic workplace violence incident analysis;
3.5.2. Make recommendations to senior management;

Workplace Violence Revision Date: February 24, 2016 Page 2

 3.5.3. Periodically review the Workplace Violence Policy and its
implementation.
3.6. Training and Organizational Development
3.6.1. Arrange and conduct training on Workplace Violence for AKU
employees with necessary support from Safety & Security, NS
(Nursing Services), SL07 (Psychiatry) etc.
4. Terms and Definitions:
4.1. Workplace Violence
Workplace violence includes, but is not limited to, all threats or acts of
violence occurring on AKU premises, regardless of the relationship between
the individuals involved in the incident. See examples in section 5.
4.2. Assaulted Person
A person reasonably put in fear or being imminently struck by another
person either by a menacing gesture, sudden move along, or accompanied
by, a threat.
4.3. Battered Person
Any person experiencing actual physical contact from another whether or not
a physical injury occurred.
4.4. Crises Assessment Team
It is a management team designed to address workplace violence incidents
with relation to their assessment, investigation and development of
corrective/preventive actions. The Crises Assessment Team is not designed
to address workplace issues that should be handled with appropriate
procedures at the unit/department level. The team comprises of
representatives from:
4.4.1.1. Unit/Department - For incidents of respective
Unit/Department
4.4.1.2. Safety & Security - For all incidents (Team
Leader)
4.4.1.3. Personnel - For incidents involving AKU
employees; and
4.4.1.4. Clinical Affairs - For incidents involving
patients/attendants.
4.5. AKU Premises
AKU Premises includes main AKU Campus on Stadium Road, IED at
Karimabad, and all other satellite locations.
5. Process / Procedure:
5.1. Examples
Specific examples of conduct that may be considered "threats or acts of
violence" prohibited under this policy include, but are not limited to, the
following:

Workplace Violence Revision Date: February 24, 2016 Page 3

 5.1.1. Hitting or shoving an individual;
5.1.2. Threatening to harm an individual or his/her family, friends,
associates, or their property;
5.1.3. The intentional destruction or threat of destruction of property owned,
operated, or controlled by AKU;
5.1.4. Making harassing or threatening telephone calls, or sending harassing
or threatening letters or other forms of written or electronic
communications;
5.1.5. Intimidating or attempting to coerce an employee to do wrongful acts,
as defined by applicable law, administrative rule, policy, or work rule,
that would affect the business interests of AKU;
5.1.6. The willful, malicious and repeated following of another person, also
known as "stalking", and making of a credible threat with intent to
place the other person in reasonable fear for his or her safety;
5.1.7. Making a suggestion or otherwise intimating that an act to injure
persons or property is "appropriate", without regard to the location
where such suggestion or intimation occurs;
5.1.8. Unauthorized possession or inappropriate use of firearms, weapons,
or any other dangerous devices on AKU premises.
5.2. Procedure
5.2.1. Affected/Reporting Person
5.2.1.1. Notify immediate supervisor;
5.2.1.2. Summon Security by dialing Ext 1900/2682;
5.2.1.3. If involved in the incident, be calm and avoid any physical
contact with the other party involved;
5.2.1.4. Fill the Incident Report Form and submit it to the immediate
Supervisor.
5.2.1.5. Activate Code 10 or Code 10 Alpha according to the
situation.
5.2.2. Department Head/Supervisor
5.2.2.1. Inform appropriate members of the Crises Assessment
Team depending on the affected party;
5.2.2.2. Participate in Crises Assessment Team investigation and
resolution of the dispute;
5.2.2.3. Process Incident Report form;
5.2.2.4. If necessary, notify the Divisional Head and DG Hospital.
During non-working hours, week-ends and public holidays,
contact Admin. On Call for resolution of the case.
5.2.2.5. Arrange counseling/assistance to affected AKU employee.
5.2.3. Safety and Security Respondent
5.2.3.1. Separate affected personnel on the site of the incident;
Workplace Violence Revision Date: February 24, 2016 Page 4
 5.2.3.2. Provide access control at the site;
5.2.3.3. Obtain incident details from affected parties and witnesses;
5.2.3.4. Obtain organizational identification card and appropriate
keys if need be;
5.2.3.5. Summon police if found necessary to control the situation;
5.2.3.6. Lead Crises Assessment Team and investigate the
incident;
5.2.3.7. On intimation from Department Head/Personnel
Department, notify the affected employee to leave the
premises and not to return until scheduled appointment
with the immediate Supervisor/Personnel Department.
5.2.3.8. Upon receiving Code 10 or Code 10Alpha dispatch
Emergency Response Team (ERT) to the site of incident.
5.2.4. Personnel/Clinical Affairs Representative
5.2.4.1. Participate in incident investigation with Crises Assessment
Team;
5.2.4.2. Collect statements from AKU employees involved in the
incident and other witnesses;
5.2.4.3. Coordinate with affected department/section manager/head
on future course of action;
5.2.4.4. Participate in establishing corrective action plan;
5.2.4.5. Render assistance if affected employee elects to file
charges with the local police in line with Registration of FIR
Policy.
6. Reference(s):
6.1. AKU Environment of Care Manual
6.2. AKU Safety Manual
6.3. HR Policies
6.4. Registration of FIR Policy
7. Annexure:
Not applicable
8. Document Change Record:
Review Date Identification of
Review # Description Of Change
(dd-mm-yyyy) Change
04 24-Feb- Formatting as per service line and change in Italic
2016 Document No.
Change in para #: Para 3.6.1
03 30-Jan- Changes made in following paragraphs: Italic
2015 Revision Date: January 30, 2015
Revision No: 03

Workplace Violence Revision Date: February 24, 2016 Page 5