Practical Training to Prevent and Manage Aggression or Violence
Employees can sometimes encounter challenging, aggressive or potentially violent behaviour as part of their work.
Prevention and Management of Aggression or Violence (PMAV) in the Workplace provides employees with the knowledge, awareness and practical skills required to recognise potential risks, respond appropriately and help prevent situations from escalating.
The course combines legal and theoretical knowledge with practical, scenario-based learning, including dynamic risk assessment, de-escalation and appropriate breakaway techniques.
The emphasis throughout the course is on prevention, personal safety, appropriate decision-making and managing situations as safely as possible.
Who is the course for?
PMAV training is particularly relevant to employees who may encounter challenging behaviour as part of their role, including:
- Healthcare and care staff
- Hospitality and hotel employees
- Restaurant and bar staff
- Retail employees
- Customer service teams
- Reception and front-of-house staff
- Security and support personnel
- Managers and supervisors
- Employees working directly with members of the public
The course can be particularly valuable for organisations where employees may be exposed to verbal aggression, threatening behaviour or physical aggression as part of their work.
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, participants will have an understanding of:
- The causes and nature of aggression and violence in the workplace
- The importance of prevention and early intervention
- Relevant Health & Safety responsibilities and legal requirements
- How to carry out a dynamic risk assessment
- The stages of the assault cycle
- How to recognise potential escalation
- Appropriate de-escalation techniques
- Effective communication when dealing with challenging behaviour
- Personal safety and appropriate positioning
- Breakaway techniques
- How to respond appropriately to potentially violent situations
- The importance of incident reporting and following workplace procedures
Course Content
1. Introduction to PMAV
An introduction to the prevention and management of aggression and violence in the workplace.
Participants will explore:
- What constitutes aggression and violence
- Why incidents occur
- Common triggers and contributing factors
- The potential impact on employees and organisations
- The importance of prevention
- The role of employees in maintaining their own safety and the safety of others
2. PMAV and the Law
An overview of the legal and workplace responsibilities associated with managing aggression and violence.
This section considers:
- Employer responsibilities
- Employee responsibilities
- Workplace risk assessment
- Appropriate control measures
- Workplace policies and procedures
- Incident reporting
- The importance of appropriate training and instruction
The course helps participants understand how PMAV fits within their organisation’s overall Health & Safety management system.
3. Dynamic Risk Assessments
Situations involving aggression can change quickly.
Participants will learn how to carry out a dynamic risk assessment, considering the circumstances as they develop and making appropriate decisions based on the level of risk.
This includes considering:
- What is happening?
- Who is involved?
- What factors may increase the risk?
- What options are available?
- Where is the safest position?
- Is there a clear exit route?
- When should assistance be requested?
- When should the situation be withdrawn from or escalated?
The objective is to help employees make safer decisions in real-time situations.
4. The Assault Cycle & De-escalation
Understanding how aggression can develop can help employees recognise warning signs and intervene appropriately before a situation escalates.
Participants will explore the assault cycle, including recognising changes in behaviour and identifying opportunities for de-escalation.
The course covers practical de-escalation approaches, including:
- Effective communication
- Active listening
- Appropriate tone and body language
- Maintaining professional boundaries
- Avoiding confrontational behaviour
- Recognising escalation
- Setting appropriate limits
- Knowing when to disengage and seek assistance
The focus is on preventing escalation wherever possible and prioritising personal safety.
5. Breakaway Techniques
Participants will be introduced to practical breakaway techniques designed to assist them in creating distance and moving away from an unsafe situation.
The emphasis is on escape, disengagement and personal safety rather than confrontation.
Practical training is delivered by appropriately qualified trainers and is designed around safe, controlled learning environments and workplace requirements.
6. Practical PMAV Skills
Participants will have the opportunity to apply the principles covered throughout the course through practical exercises and workplace scenarios.
Practical skills may include:
- Safe positioning
- Maintaining appropriate personal space
- Verbal de-escalation
- Dynamic risk assessment
- Recognising escalating behaviour
- Appropriate responses to challenging situations
- Breakaway and disengagement techniques
- Seeking assistance appropriately
- Maintaining awareness of surroundings and exit routes
Where appropriate, scenarios can be adapted to reflect the types of situations employees may encounter within their own workplace.
7. Test & Assessment
Participants complete a test and assessment to demonstrate their understanding of the course content and the practical skills covered during the training.
Successful participants receive a The Food Safety Company certificate of completion, subject to the applicable course requirements.
Practical & Workplace-Focused
PMAV training should prepare employees for situations they may actually encounter.
Our trainers combine theory with practical exercises and realistic workplace scenarios, helping participants develop the confidence to recognise risks, make appropriate decisions and respond safely.
Training can be tailored to reflect your organisation’s:
- Workplace environment
- Employee roles
- Specific risks
- Existing PMAV policies and procedures
- Incident reporting arrangements
- Emergency response procedures
This makes the training relevant to your employees rather than simply delivering a generic course.
Why Choose The Food Safety Company?
Experienced Trainers. Practical Skills. Safer Responses.
Our Health & Safety team understands that aggression and violence can present different challenges depending on the workplace.
We provide practical training that focuses on prevention, awareness, communication, de-escalation and personal safety, helping employees understand what they can do to reduce risk and respond appropriately when challenging situations arise.
Practical
Participants develop skills that can be applied in real workplace situations.
Relevant
Training can be tailored to the risks and working environment of your organisation.
Experienced
Delivered by experienced Health & Safety professionals with an understanding of workplace risk management.
Confidence
Employees leave with a greater understanding of how to recognise, assess and safely manage potentially challenging situations.
Give Your Team the Skills to Respond Safely
Every workplace has different risks. Our PMAV training can help your employees recognise potential problems early, respond appropriately and prioritise their own safety and the safety of others.
Talk to The Food Safety Company today about Prevention and Management of Aggression or Violence (PMAV) training for your team.
Course Details
Course: Prevention and Management of Aggression or Violence (PMAV) in the Workplace
Duration: Approx. 6 hours
Delivery: On-site or classroom-based
Suitable for: Employees, managers and supervisors
Assessment: Test and practical assessment
Certification: The Food Safety Company certificate of completion, subject to applicable course requirements
