Workplace Violence Awareness & Prevention Part III

Gary Smith for AAM BlogWRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND

Recall that in part I and II of this series on workplace violence, we defined what workplace violence is, who is vulnerable, why employers must act to prevent it, and what actions may be taken to do so.

Now, in this last part, we will focus on the elements for developing an effective workplace violence policy and prevention program.

1. Written Policy Statement

Set the standard for acceptable workplace behavior. The statement should affirm your commitment to a safe workplace, employees’ obligation to behave appropriately on the job, and your commitment to take action on any employee’s complaint regarding harassing, threatening, and violent behavior.

2. Preventive Practices

Pre-employment screening: The amount of pre-employment scrutiny will vary according to the level and sensitivity of the job being filled, your policies and resources, and applicable legal requirements. Items that can raise red flags are a history of drug or alcohol abuse; past conflicts (especially if violence was involved) with coworkers; past convictions for violent crimes; a defensive, hostile attitude; a history of frequent job changes; and a tendency to blame others for problems.

Identifying Problem Situations and Risk Factors: Problem situations can involve a particular event or employee, or the workplace as a whole. It is important for you and your employees alike to remain alert to problematic behavior that, in combination, could point to possible violence.

Security preparations: Regular questionnaires or surveys of employees can be used to collect ideas on the occurrence and potential for violent incidents and to identify or confirm the need for improved security measures. Responses can help identify jobs, locations, or work situations where the risk of violence appears highest.

3. Addressing Threats/Threatening Behaviors

Many times, a violent act is preceded by a threat. The threat may have been explicit or veiled, spoken or unspoken, specific or vague, but it occurred. In other instances, behavior may be observed by others, which might suggest the potential for some type of violent act to occur. Dealing with threats/threatening behavior—detecting them, evaluating them, and finding a way to address them—may be the single most important key to preventing violence. You and your employees will need to know how to identify and report threats/threatening behavior.

4. Threat Assessment and Incident Response Teams

Threat assessment has two parts. First, an evaluation of the threat itself to determine the credibility and overall viability of an expression of an intent to do harm, and second, an evaluation of the person(s) making the threat. The goal of threat assessment is to place a threat somewhere on a hierarchy of dangerousness and determine an appropriate intervention.

Your workplace violence prevention program should designate the personnel who will be specifically responsible for overseeing the organization’s antiviolence policy, including threat assessment and crisis management. Teams should have the authority, training, and support needed to meet their responsibilities. They can benefit from consulting with law enforcement officials, mental health professionals, emergency response personnel, and other outside specialists or agencies that could become involved in a crisis. To be fully effective, these relationships should be established and maintained before an emergency occurs. Teams should also keep good written records of all incidents and interventions, monitor results, and evaluate the actions that were taken.

5. Training

Training in workplace violence prevention will vary according to different employee groups. Training should be provided to new/current employees, supervisors, and managers, and be conducted on a regular basis.

For in depth discussion of each these elements, please download and review the FBI’s 80-page publication, Workplace Violence – Issues in Response1.

OSHA’s Safety and Health Topics tool2 offers resources to assist employers with developing workplace violence prevention programs.

Should you require assistance with developing your workplace violence awareness and prevention program, please contact Gary Smith, CRM, at (517) 338-3367 or gary.smith@yorkrsg.com

References:

  1. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Publication: Workplace Violence – Issues in Response
  2. Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) Workplace Violence online resource: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/index.html

 

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