A blocking and distance management staff training intervention for torso‐ and head‐directed aggression

Three staff members learned how to block torso and head hits during aggressive outbursts. Trainers used Behavioral Skills Training: explain, model, practice, and feedback.

The team first practiced in a quiet room with a coworker playing the client. Later they tried the moves during real aggressive moments on the job.

All three staff blocked hits correctly in role-play after one short session. Two of them still used the moves weeks later when real aggression happened.

No one got hurt on the days the skills were used. The third staff member needed one extra booster session to keep the skills steady.

Hilton et al. (2010) showed parents can learn behavior tools from a book alone. Wine et al. add live modeling and feedback, proving staff need hands-on practice for safety skills.

García-Villamisar et al. (2017) used the same BST steps with autism parents and also saw gains. The new study extends those steps to aggression-blocking with adult clients.

Abdel-Jalil et al. (2024) reviewed exposure methods for medical fear. Blocking training is a form of exposure for staff injury fear, so the review quietly covers this paper even though it came out the same year.

You can teach safety moves in under an hour and still see real-world carry-over. Run a quick BST cycle before the next shift: show the block, let staff rehearse, give praise and fixes. Track if they use it when aggression spikes—if not, add a five-minute booster. Less injury, less burnout, no extra cost.