Health care workers in Ontario are often the vistims of violence according to a new survey to be released Monday.

A survey by the Ontario Council of Hospital Unions shows that almost 70 percent of those who responded suffered at least one incident of physical violence in the past year.

During that period, 20 percent reported being assaulted nine or more times.

42 percent say they were sexually assaulted in the last 12 months.

As well, 34 percent of cleaners, dietary aides and clerical staff report being verbally or physically assaulted.