healthcare workplace surveyCUPE and the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions say a survey involving local hospital staff shows “staggeringly high rates of workplace violence”.

The survey was conducted earlier this week with 59 percent of respondents being registered practical nurses and personal support workers, while the other 41 per cent are employed in other capacities at the hospital.

Officials say 86 percent of nurses and PSW’s polled experienced incidents of physical violence in the last year. That includes pushing, hitting or having things thrown at them.

Meantime, 81 per cent also indicated they witnessed incidents of physical and non-physical violence toward co-workers in the last year.

40 per cent of respondents had experienced sexual harassment or sexual assault either physical or non-physical in the last year.

Officials also say 51 per cent say they are afraid of reprisal if they speak up about an incident of violence.

The poll is a pilot for a provincial survey the unions plan to conduct with its 30,000 hospital and long-term care members across Ontario.