2025 Volume 28 Issue 4 Pages 603-610
Objective: To assess detailed circumstances of workplace violence against emergency medical services (EMS).
Methods: I examined workplace violence against EMS registered in the records of Tokyo Fire Department from 2018 to 2022. We compiled a dataset of the characteristics of the assailant, including sex, age, and alcohol use. The dataset also included the circumstances that were suspected to be related to the violence, the assailant’s verbal and behavioral patterns preceding the violence, type of violence, and the presence of a fire company at the scene prior to the violence.
Results: There were 122 reported incidents of workplace violence. The majority of assailants were men, and had been drinking. Refusal of observation or transportation for the patient was identified as the most common circumstance that was suspected of being related to the violence. Verbal abuse and refusal to answer questions were the most common verbal and behavioral patterns by assailants preceding the violence. The most prevalent forms of violence were verbal abuse, striking with bare hands, and refusal to enter/stand/stand back, in that order. These incidents occurred most frequently while the EMS team was operating as a single unit.
Conclusions: In order to prevent and mitigate damage, in circumstances requiring heightened vigilance, multiple staff members should respond to the situation until the patient is transferred to the care of a physician and a suitable distance should be maintained from a potential assailant to avoid direct violence.
