Learn to Conduct Your Own IPV Risk Assessment (Don't Wait for Outside Experts)
- Rika Sawatsky
- Dec 1
- 3 min read
Day 7 of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
This is Day 7 in my 16 tips in 16 days series for employers building domestic violence response programs that work in practice—not just on paper.
Earlier posts walked through intake and building trust. You can go back to Day 1 here.
Today, we shift into the next critical step: risk assessment.
You Can’t Outsource the First Step
Many employers assume that if an employee discloses intimate partner violence, the next step is to bring in a specialist for an IPV risk assessment.
In an ideal world, yes — collaboration with trained IPV threat assessors can be invaluable.
But here’s the reality:
Many professional threat assessors cost $500–$750/hour.
They’re not always skilled in IPV-specific dynamics.
They’re not always available quickly.
Community experts like shelters or forensic nurses already have long waitlists of individuals needing urgent support.
Employers are rarely the priority for non-profit service providers — nor should they be.
I tested this assumption myself. I contacted multiple Violence Against Women Coordinating Committee members across Toronto — and those who responded were clear:
They do not have capacity to assist employers with timely workplace risk assessments.
So if your plan is:“We’ll outsource it when it happens,”then the plan will fail when it matters.
Why Employers Need to Learn IPV Risk Assessments
When an employee discloses domestic violence at work, they are already taking a significant risk.
They came to you, not a stranger.
Passing them off immediately — especially without explanation — can:
Damage trust
Discourage future disclosure
Halt collaboration
Delay necessary safety measures
Increase risk
Meanwhile, under occupational health and safety legislation, employers have a legal duty to assess and respond promptly when domestic violence creates a workplace safety risk.
So even if you later bring in an external expert, you still need to start the assessment immediately.
Which Risk Assessment Tool Should You Use?
There are many validated tools, ranging widely in complexity, training requirements, and accessibility.
The truth is:
It’s better to complete ANY risk assessment than to avoid doing one because you're unsure which tool is “best.”
One tool I often recommend for early-stage assessments — and one referenced in training from the Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children — is the iHEAL app.
Why it works well:
It’s free
It’s user-friendly
There’s a safe exit function
It can be used by both survivors and support personnel
It helps identify urgency and next steps clearly
Once an initial assessment is completed, employers can — if appropriate — seek a second opinion.
Start With What You Can Do Now
Even if you plan to leverage outside experts in high-risk cases, your team still needs:
Training on IPV dynamics
Familiarity with validated risk tools
Confidence to conduct an initial assessment
A clear escalation protocol
Because in domestic violence situations, timing matters.
Delays can increase danger.
Being prepared isn’t optional — it’s part of your legal responsibility.
If Your Organization Needs Support, I Can Help
I’m an employment lawyer helping employers build and implement domestic violence response strategies rooted in law, safety, and trauma- and violence-informed approaches.
There are excellent free tools available at dvatwork.ca — and if your workplace needs support with:
Training
Risk assessment frameworks
Safety planning
Policy development
Implementation
I can help you build a system that protects employees and meets your legal obligations. Please reach out.
Because employers shouldn’t have to figure this out alone — and survivors shouldn’t have to wait.
