ABSTRACT
The healthcare work environment is considered one of the most dangerous. Employees are exposed to all types of hazards, including physical, chemical, biological, and psychosocial. Despite technological progress and the development of civilization, the sources of occupational hazards in this sector have increased in recent years. During the pandemic caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2, many factors threatening the occupational safety of healthcare workers were intensified, especially psychosocial factors such as high demands, overtime, excessive work pace, insufficient time for regeneration, unsatisfactory remuneration, and occupational stress. To these factors, the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work adds working with a demanding client – a patient – which is increasingly stressful – especially in the context of violence and aggressive behavior of patients, which determines the work safety of healthcare workers. An analysis of the literature on the subject revealed a lack of research in this area, particularly on the links between manifestations of violence and aggressive behavior by patients and medical staff: doctors, nurses, and paramedics.
