Violence and threats against nurses are never acceptable

United Nurses of Alberta is extremely concerned about the safety and well-being of its members after the Royal Alexandra Hospital was placed on lockdown yesterday when threats of gun violence were made by an outside caller.

The threats led to a lockdown that closed the large central Edmonton hospital, causing significant distress among staff and disrupting patient services.

Effective health care depends on safe and skilled health care workers, and nurses’ ability to deliver this standard of care is clearly impacted by the need to deal with volatile situations, which happen frequently.

Alberta Health Services and law enforcement authorities need to take this situation seriously in order to send a clear message to the public that threats of violence against nurses and health care workers are unacceptable and have real consequences.

UNA calls on AHS and law enforcement authorities to use all legal avenues available to respond swiftly and strongly to this and other threats against nurses and health care workers.

UNA will post any further updates on this topic at una.ca.

Violence is not part of the job

Employers are required to provide safe workplaces for employees and to educate all employees about how to report health and safety problems they experience or see developing, including the potential for workplace violence.

Everyone has the right to a safe and respectful workplace free from violence. Unfortunately, physical and verbal abuse targeted at workers are regular occurrences in health care settings, especially since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Should any nurse or health care worker encounter any such “undue hazard,” they have the right to refuse dangerous work.

Section 17(1) of the Occupational Health and Safety Act defines “undue hazard” in relation to any occupation that poses a serious immediate threat to the health and safety of a person.

Any nurse or health care worker facing an immediate hazard that puts them at risk of death or serious physical harm should immediately contact their local police department or RCMP. After contacting the local police, call Alberta Health Services Protective Services.

Nurses are being asked to contact Protective Services even when the local police are called to ensure that Protective Services assesses and, where necessary, remains present if local police leave the scene. If they do not remain at the scene, please inform your UNA Labour Relations Officer or Occupations Health and Safety Advisor.

Nurses employed by a non-AHS employer should contact the local police and notify management and their employer’s security services of any threats.

When a threat occurs, don't forget, you can ask Protective Services for a safe walk to your vehicle.

Nurses with questions or concerns about threats of violence in their workplace can contact a UNA Labour Relations Officer or Occupational Health & Safety Advisor at 1-800-252-9394 or nurses@una.ca.