Effective tactics against violence

Only when the colleagues are equipped with necessary skills can they respond to workplace violence calmly and readily. The Head Office Occupational Safety and Health Team has been organising ‘Breakaway Techniques Training’ for colleagues working in departments with high risk of workplace violence since 2015, such as Security, Community Nursing Services, Ambulatory Care Services, Outreaching Services and Accident and Emergency (A&E). Also, colleagues in Security and A&E Department are offered ‘Control and Restraint Training’ as appropriate.

Drill prepares frontline staff for real-life emergencies. Every cluster conducts workplace violence drill annually across different departments and disciplines. Hong Kong East Cluster (HKEC) has pioneered workplace violence drills since 2009. “Scenarios in the drills are based on true stories, for example, a drunken couple makes a scene in A&E Department and a patient threatens healthcare personnel with a knife. Colleagues have to deal with dilemmas of whether to stay or leave in case of workplace violence incidents and whether to evacuate other patients,” says Ben Hui, convener of the HKEC Working Group on Prevention of Workplace Violence. Post-drill debriefing sessions and review meetings play a crucial role in bringing about improvements. “We observe and discuss the risk assessment, de-escalation techniques and staff response demonstrated by the responders in the incidents as we watch the video replay of the drills. The review and sharing of handling the incidents help our colleagues consolidate the skills and techniques!”

Breakaway techniques

Chok hold from back

To keep your breath smooth, immediately attach your lower jaw to your chest, raise your shoulders, pull assailant’s forearm down to create space while maintaining body balance. Move your leg to the back of assailant to prevent being tripped. At the same time, bend your waist and turn your head towards the assailant, hold and press his wrist down with a hand while grabbing his elbow with another hand and pushing outwards. Give a loud and clear command, such as ‘Release’ and run away immediately to increase the chance to escape.

Back hair grab

Hold your hair with a hand and move another hand across assailant’s forearm and raise it straight and close to your ear. Push assailant’s forearm down with your upper arm and dash forward. At the same time, give a loud and clear command, such as ‘Release’ to increase the chance to escape.

Control and restraint techniques

Kick and punch

At least a group of three forms a control and restraint team. Members shall maintain sideways stance with front and rear legs in a protective posture as well as stay at least one arm’s length from the assailant. The middle one is the team leader who is responsible for de-escalating the assailant and issuing commands. The team members on the left and right are responsible for holding assailant’s hands.

Apply control and restraint techniques. When the team leader who is facing the assailant commands, “Go!”, the other two team members get close to the assailant rapidly and hold his elbows and wrists by straight-arm hold. The members further control the assailant’s arms by figure-of-four hold. After the team leader gives command again, two members quickly escort the assailant to the end of a bed and place him on it. Other staff work together to hold the lower limbs of the assailant and then apply restrainer.