Workplace safety needs more than asking staff to stay calm -

Workers should not have to absorb threats and harassment as part of a shift. People causing harm are responsible for their conduct, and workplace safety needs an organisational response.

On 20 October 2026, the NSW Government announced legislation to establish a Workplace Protection Order scheme, initially for retail workplaces. The announcement describes proposed protections, rather than a scheme already operating. It says commencement is expected within 12 months of passage, allowing time for education, training and justice system upgrades. Its effectiveness has not yet been established.

Our practical call to employers is to review what happens when a worker raises a concern. Who responds? Is help available during every shift? Can a worker ask for assistance without being blamed for failing to calm someone down? What support follows an incident?

For government, the question is how any new scheme will be implemented and evaluated. Protection on paper needs accessible processes and a response people can rely on.

Safety education can expand a person’s options. It cannot replace an employer’s responsibility to address risks or a perpetrator’s responsibility to stop the behaviour.

Source: NSW Government, “New scheme to better protect workers from abuse, violence”, 20 October 2026. https://www.nsw.gov.au/ministerial-releases/new-scheme-to-better-protect-workers-from-abuse-violence

The workplace questions above are WSDN editorial recommendations.