Table 1 Comparing Workplace Violence and Code Whites, [2]

" … incidents where staff are abused, threatened or assaulted in circumstances related to their work, including commuting to and from work, involving an explicit or implicit challenge to their safety, well-being or health." (Richards, 2003, p. 2)

a. The exercise of physical force by a person against a worker, in a workplace, that causes or could cause physical injury to the worker; b. An attempt to exercise physical force against a worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker; c. A statement or behaviour that it is reasonable for a worker to interpret as a threat to exercise physical force against the worker, in a workplace, that could cause physical injury to the worker.

Definition: Code White is a coordinated and trained emergency response to a care recipient, worker, or visitor displaying violent behaviours that may cause harm or injury to others, themselves, and/or is damaging to property.

Reasons: Worker perceives themselves or others in danger from a person’s behaviours; Person’s behaviours are harmful to self, others, or damaging to property; Person’s behaviours are escalating towards physical violence; Person’s behaviours are unmanageable for workers and resources.

Definition: An emergency response for a violent person. Reasons: The person is verbally and/or physically threatening towards themselves, staff, patients/clients, and/or visitors; The person is not responding to verbal de-escalation techniques, negotiating, redirection, limit setting, and problem-solving techniques by the staff; The person may require restraint (chemical and/or physical) and is anticipated to be resistive to the restraining procedure; and/or, urgent assistance is required.