Objectives: to discuss specific laws and public policies for workplace violence in the health sector, highlighting possibilities for the collective confrontation of this phenomenon in Brazil.
Methods: this is a reflective and argumentative study that refers to some previous experiences regarding the implementation of legal aspects to curb workplace violence directed at health professionals.
Results: there are experiences regarding the existence of legislation or public policies to specifically contain workplace violence in the health sector, but these are still restricted to some places or countries. The literature provides resources for developing specific strategies for managing this phenomenon, highlighting prevention programs and conducts for case management.
Final considerations: implementation of legal aspects or public policies at the municipal, regional, state and/or national level is a strategy with potential to confront workplace violence in health services in a collective and sustainable way.