PAHO Issued Health Worker Safety Guidance
Healthcare managers must prepare for high rates of workplace violence across global facilities.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) released a new fact sheet to help health administrators prevent workplace violence, an issue currently impacting 62% of health workers globally. The guidance follows a regional seminar in Washington, D.C. that addressed the systemic risks facing the predominantly female health workforce.
Why it matters
Widespread violence threatens both staff well-being and overall health system functioning, yet only 26 of 195 WHO member states have specific occupational safety policies for these workers. Addressing these gaps is critical for operators looking to stabilize retention and ensure safe clinical environments.
Global data shows that 62% of health workers have faced workplace violence, including 58% reporting verbal abuse and 12% experiencing sexual harassment. With women making up 70% of the health workforce, these figures highlight a persistent risk across 22 countries studied.
The players
Pan American Health Organization
An international public health agency that provides technical cooperation and sets health policy standards for the Americas.
The details
The PAHO framework aims to help facilities implement comprehensive response protocols, shifting away from reactive measures toward risk anticipation and prevention. The strategy was informed by a regional seminar in Washington, D.C., where 400 specialists from 34 countries reviewed methods to manage threats and physical aggression, which account for one out of every ten reported incidents.
Timeline
September 25, 2026: PAHO released the new guidance fact sheet.
Market Landscape
This release marks an attempt to standardize safety protocols against the current baseline of the WHO Member States occupational health and safety policies. It follows a clear trend where current protections cover only a small fraction of the 195 member states, leaving most facilities to manage systemic risks without national regulatory support.
Operators should review existing facility safety protocols against the new PAHO recommendations to address high rates of verbal abuse and threats. Assessing internal reporting mechanisms for aggression is an essential immediate step to improve workforce retention and mitigate liability.
The takeaway
Workplace violence is a structural issue affecting nearly two-thirds of the global health workforce, necessitating proactive management intervention. Operators should audit their current safety policies against international best practices to better protect staff and maintain operational continuity.
Further reading
For more on managing staffing risks and facility security, explore our Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Curaçao Chronicle.
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