Guidelines for handling violence and threats from Third Parties
Approved by the University Director May 22, 2014, last modified by the Working Environment Committee on June 17, 2026, archive reference 2026/52176.
1. Purpose
These guidelines are intended to help prevent violence and threats directed at University of Bergen (UiB) employees by third parties and to ensure that incidents are managed in a safe and appropriate manner.
2. Scope and Legal Basis
These guidelines form part of the University of Bergen’s Regulatory Framework (Part 3: Personnel and Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)) and are based on the Norwegian Working Environment Act Section 4-3 in conjunction with Sections 4-1(1) and 3-1, as well as associated regulations, including:
Regulations concerning Systematic Health, Environment and Safety Activities in Enterprises (Internal Control Regulations, Section 5)
Regulations concerning Organization, Management and Employee Participation, Sections 7-1 and 7-3
Regulations concerning the Performance of Work, Chapter 3A in conjunction with Chapter 1A
These guidelines apply to violence and threats directed at UiB employees by third parties.
A third party is a person who is not employed by UiB and who threatens or commits violence against a UiB employee. This may include students, members of the public, collaborators, patients, or other external stakeholders.
Violence and threats occurring between employees and/or managers shall be handled in accordance with UiB’s Guidelines for conflict management and Guidelines for Notification (Whistleblowing).
3. Definitions
Violence and Threats: «Violence and threats» are incidents in which employees are physically or verbally assaulted in situations related to their work and which involve an explicit or implied threat to their safety, health, or well-being. (Source: Norwegian Labour Inspection Authority)
Violence and threats may be of a physical, verbal, or digital nature, for example.
Violence: Any act intended to cause physical or psychological harm to a UiB employee as a consequence of their work.
Threat: A verbal attack or action intended to harm or intimidate a UiB employee, affecting their health, well-being, or safety as a consequence of their work.
Line Manager: The manager of a unit with personnel responsibility. This may include the University Director, employed Dean, Faculty/Division Director, Head of Department, or equivalent position, who holds overall responsibility for health, safety and environment (HSE) within the unit.
4. Incident Management
4.1 Management of Acute Incidents
Contact emergency services (Police: 112, Ambulance: 113)
Ensure their own safety and the safety of others as soon as possible
Notify their immediate manager as soon as possible
Follow advice provided for Treaths situations and Violent incidents
4.2 Management of Non-Acute Incidents
The line manager shall:
Ensure that employees exposed to violence or threats receive appropriate support and, where necessary, are referred to healthcare professionals or the Occupational Health Service
Ensure that incidents of violence and threats are reported through UiB’s HSE incident reporting system and followed up through the implementation of necessary measures
If required, notify the relevant emergency management organization in accordance with UiB Emergency Preparedness Plan
Assess the need to update risk assessments, revise procedures, and implement measures to prevent recurrence
Conduct an evaluation of the incident and, where appropriate, review the incident in HSE and/or Working Environment Committee (AMU) meetings for learning and preventive purposes
In serious cases, assess the need to report the matter to the police in consultation with the HR Director (the report should include details such as time, location, persons involved, description of events, and the names of any witnesses)
An employee who has been subjected to, or has witnessed, violence or threats against an employee shall:
Contact their line manager as soon as possible and inform them of the incident
register the incident in UiB’s HSE incident reporting system
5. Preventive Measures
5.1 Line Manager
The line manager is responsible for ensuring that work is organized, planned, and carried out in such a way that employees are protected, as far as reasonably possible, from violence and threats by:
Ensuring that these guidelines are communicated to employees and implemented locally within the unit
Preventing, managing, and following up incidents as part of UiB’s continuous and systematic HSE work
In consultation with employees and safety representatives, and in accordance with UiB’s guidance on HSE risk assessments and systematic review of HSE-related risks, the line manager shall:
Identify and assess risks in the work and working environment that may expose employees to violence and threats from third parties, including, for example, teaching situations, interactions with the public, events, and research activities
Develop and implement necessary plans and measures to eliminate or reduce, as far as possible, the risk of violence and threats
Document risk assessments, evaluations, and measures in writing
Update risk assessments annually and whenever changes occur that affect risk levels
Inform affected employees of changes and implemented measures
Ensure that employees who may be particularly exposed to violence and threats receive the necessary training
5.2 Employees
Employees shall:
Participate in risk identification and assessment, planning, design of measures, and implementation of preventive measures against violence and threats
Comply with safety procedures and locally adapted measures related to violence and threats
5.3 Safety Representative
The safety representative shall actively participate in all phases of work related to violence and threats, including:
Risk identification and assessment
Planning and implementation of measures
Information and training
Handling of individual incidents
5.4 Occupational Health Service
The Occupational Health Service shall provide professional assistance and advice to the unit when required by risk conditions or upon request by:
Assisting in risk identification and assessment processes
Providing professional advice on prevention and management
Contributing to training activities
Providing support and follow-up after individual incidents
6. References
Date |
Comment |
Entered by |
|---|---|---|
7.8.2026 |
Changes to structure, definitions, references, and links |
Mona Viksøy |
14.10.2022 |
Updating urls in chapter 3, 6.2 and 7. |
Mona Viksøy |
Monday 01 July 2019 9:32:51 am |
Updating urls in chapter 7. |
Olaug Eiksund |
Monday 07 January 2019 12:16:21 pm |
Minor adjustment in chapter 6.2 |
Olaug Eiksund |
Monday 04 June 2018 2:20:49 pm |
Updating urls in chapter 6.2 |
Olaug Eiksund |
Monday 04 June 2018 2:18:13 pm |
Minor adjustments |
Olaug Eiksund |
Wednesday 30 May 2018 2:08:28 pm |
Minor adjustments |
Olaug Eiksund |
Wednesday 30 May 2018 2:07:32 pm |
Minor adjustments |
Olaug Eiksund |
Thursday 16 November 2017 12:39:33 pm |
Minor adjustments |
Olaug Eiksund |
Thursday 16 November 2017 12:36:52 pm |
Updating chapter 7 |
Olaug Eiksund |
Thursday 16 November 2017 10:41:00 am |
Updating chapter 7 |
Olaug Eiksund |
Thursday 16 November 2017 10:25:11 am |
Updating chapter 7 |
Olaug Eiksund |