Statement Released on Emergency Medicine Day – 27 May 2026
The Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians (CAEP) is calling for urgent national action to address the growing crisis of violence in emergency departments (EDs) across Canada.
Five years after CAEP’s original 2021 position statement on workplace violence, evidence suggests that violence against emergency staff has increased in both frequency and severity. Verbal abuse, physical assaults, sexual violence, intimidation, and psychological harm are now common experiences for many healthcare workers.
CAEP emphasizes that violence in healthcare is not “part of the job.” Emergency staff deserve safe workplaces, and patients deserve care environments that are secure, respectful, and trauma-informed.
The updated statement highlights several key strategies to reduce violence in EDs, including:
- Safer emergency department design with improved visibility, secure workspaces, and controlled access areas
- Behavioural assessment rooms for patients experiencing mental health crises or severe agitation
- Safe nurse-to-patient staffing ratios to reduce overcrowding and patient frustration
- Mandatory de-escalation training for all ED staff
- Violence risk assessment tools to identify potentially aggressive behaviour early
- Improved communication systems and panic alarms for staff safety
- Appropriate security presence trained in non-violent, trauma-informed approaches
CAEP also stresses that many violent incidents involve patients experiencing delirium, substance use disorders, psychosis, or other medical conditions. These patients require compassionate care while ensuring staff and patient safety.
The updated statement reflects the urgent need for coordinated action to prevent violence in emergency departments and to ensure safe environments for patients, physicians, nurses, and all healthcare staff.
CAEP’s core message is clear: violence in emergency departments is preventable, and protecting healthcare workers must become a national priority.
Click here to access the full statement.