Examqo › Examqo library › Occupational medicine › Ergonomic and psychosocial hazards · IMLE
Workplace violence and psychosocial hazards
Violence, harassment and bullying at work are an occupational hazard in every sense – especially common in health, teaching and service jobs – and the employer must prevent them through the design of the environment and the organization, allow safe reporting and support those harmed.
Why it matters in the exam
Items on this topic ask in which occupations violence is common (health, social work, teaching, security, public transport, front-desk service), who the usual attacker is in hospitals (patients and relatives, mainly in emergency and mental health departments), and what the employer's duties are. International Labour Organization Convention No. 190 (2019) defines violence and harassment at work broadly – including sexual harassment and psychological harm – and requires an approach of prevention, protection and support. In Israel the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law (1998) requires the employer to take reasonable preventive steps, appoint a person responsible for complaints, and publish a code in a workplace that employs more than 25 employees. Other items deal with practical steps: risk assessment, physical design (escape routes, panic buttons, lighting), adequate staffing, de-escalation training, no-blame reporting procedures, and care of the injured worker – medical treatment, psychological support and follow-up for post-traumatic stress symptoms. An assault during work may be recognized as a work injury by the National Insurance Institute, so documentation matters. Remember that verbal violence and ongoing bullying harm health no less than a single physical event, and that under-reporting is a major problem – many workers see violence as "part of the job".
Key points
- Violence and harassment at work are an occupational hazard, especially common in health jobs.
- International Labour Organization Convention 190 (2019) defines violence and harassment at work.
- Prevention starts with environmental and organizational design.
- In Israel a code against sexual harassment must be published in a workplace with more than 25 employees.
- The injured worker needs medical and psychological care, documentation and follow-up.
Summary table
| Topic | What it includes | Exam point |
|---|---|---|
| Broad definition | Physical and verbal violence, threats, sexual harassment and bullying | International Labour Organization Convention 190 (2019) |
| Groups at risk | Health, teaching, social work, security, front-desk service | In emergency and mental health – mainly patients and companions |
| Environmental prevention | Physical design, panic buttons, security, lighting | Structural measures before training |
| Organizational prevention | Staffing, waiting times, de-escalation training, reporting procedure | No-blame reporting increases reporting |
| Legal duties in Israel | Reasonable measures, a complaints officer, a code where there are more than 25 employees | The Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law (1998) |
| Care of the injured | Medical and psychological care, documentation, follow-up for post-traumatic stress | An assault at work can be a work injury |
In the full version for subscribers
- A simple algorithm
- Memory aid
- Exam traps
- 5 review cards
- Enough for IMLE
The full version is open to subscribers of: Occupational medicine, Medical licensing exam (IMLE), Family medicine, Emergency medicine.
Subscriber? Read the full topic Plans and prices 25 free questions
Sources
- ILO, Violence and Harassment Convention (No. 190), 2019 — Definitions and employer duties
- WHO, ILO, ICN and PSI, Framework guidelines for addressing workplace violence in the health sector, 2002 — Prevention and response
- Israel, Prevention of Sexual Harassment Law (חוק למניעת הטרדה מינית), 1998, as amended — Employer duties
Sources are given for further reading; the text is written afresh and not copied from them.
Reviewed by the Examqo AI Professor · 2026-11-06. The text may contain errors; when in doubt, check the source.