Female and disabled practitioners are most at risk from BHA, while Black, Asian and minority ethnic, disabled, and female practitioners are most at risk of discrimination. 

Society of Occupational Medicine (SOM) president Professor Neil Greenberg called the findings ‘shocking' and said the research ‘needed to be a wake-up call' to employers, providers and the NHS, adding: ‘It is totally unacceptable that as many as three-quarters of occupational health practitioners suffer abuse, bullying and harassment day in, day out, simply while doing their job. While abuse and bullying from patients and workers is bad enough, the extent to which practitioners are also suffering at the hands of co-workers and even the very employers they are contracted to work for is appalling.'

Over half of BHA was from workers that they assessed in their own clinics (59%), followed by employers (47%) - such as managers and HR - that they provide services to. Employers (20%) and colleagues (20%) were most likely to instigate discrimination, followed by the workers they see in their clinics (19%).

Rates of BHA are significantly higher than annual NHS staff figures - where one in four (25%) report experiencing BHA while at work from patients, service users, relatives or the public and 9% reported similar behaviour from managers, and 17% from colleagues.

The findings come as the BMA and nursing leaders warn of a 'dire shortage' of specialist occupational health professionals, driven by an ageing workforce and limited training routes; the occupational medicine workforce has been in steady decline since 2009.

The findings are also likely the tip of the iceberg, as the study identifies that almost two-fifths (39%) did not report BHA when they last experienced it. 

The authors urge occupational health providers to do more by putting in place clear policies, confidential reporting channels, better training and education, fair and prompt investigations and a much more proactive leadership culture.

They also recommend that ‘when employees attend occupational health, the invitation to attend the clinic should be accompanied by a standardised statement of the responsibilities of the occupational health clinicians to both the employer and employee, so as to reduce the likelihood of any misunderstanding of the purpose and role of the occupational health professional'.