WRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND
In the last part of our series on Preventing Workplace Violence we focus on some general security precautions as well as what to do in the event an incident occurs at one of your properties. These security precautions are important not just to prevent workplace violence, but to help prevent other criminal activity and possibly reduce general liability claims as well.
General Security Measures
• Keep all security doors locked at all times. Do not allow contractors, guests, visitors, tenants, etc. to block these doors open. Periodically check the doors to ensure they close and latch automatically.
• Provide employees and contractors with badges to identify their relationship with your company. Badges are not only important for your staff, tenants and guests but they are useful to police officers responding to an incident at your location.
• Provide a mechanism for employees and tenants to report burned out or inadequate outdoor lighting or landscaping which needs to be trimmed back for lighting purposes. Occasionally walk the grounds at night to check your lighting to ensure it continues to be adequate and operational.
• Establish procedures for reporting suspicious behavior on the property. Make sure all employees are aware of any criminal activity that has taken place on the property including vandalism and graffiti.
• Train employees to be on the alert for drug activity on the property, particularly those related to meth labs.
• Establish procedures for the collection of any cash on your properties including vending machines. Employees should not carry money out in the open including in money bags and all cash should be deposited as soon as possible.
Aftermath
Workplace violence is becoming increasingly hard to avoid. If an event occurs at your property keep these things in mind to manage the situation:
• Once law enforcement has the situation under control make sure all employees who were involved in the incident receive prompt medical attention.
• Recognize that pain, fear, stress and other emotions are natural.
• Utilize counselors as necessary to help employees debrief following an incident and to process the event and develop a plan for moving forward.
• Encourage employees to not blame anyone including themselves for the incident. It is also important that as a property owner or manager, you also not blame yourself.
• Follow your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan procedures including completing the necessary incident reports.
By developing a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, conducting employee training on the plan and tools to manage confrontation, establishing an incident reporting system and implementing and maintaining your security systems you will dramatically improve the odds that a workplace violence incident will not occur at one of your properties. And, if one does, by being prepared you will increase the safety of your employees and be better able to manage.