Violence at work

Security, nursing, social care and public transport workers are more likely to be attacked. More than 3 million working days are lost every year due to violent incidents at work. The cost to industry in compensation and lost production is hundreds of millions of pounds. Half of reported physical attacks and a third of verbal threats come from people known to the victim.

'Distressing'

TUC general secretary John Monks said: " Violence at work is distressing, dangerous and bad for business.

"Ignoring the problem won't make it go away, so we want unions and employers to work in partnership to get tough with violence and tough on the causes of violence."

The TUC has also published a new guide for union reps, offering advice on how to raise the profile of the problem and outlining a checklist of legal rights.

It will be sent to 200,000 businesses across the UK.