Homicide is one of the leading causes of workplace-related deaths, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Workplace violence targets workers inside and outside of the workplace and includes actual violence, the threat of violence, verbal abuse and physical assault. OSHA reports that about two million Americans are workplace-violence victims each year at the hands of co-workers or members of the public. While workplace violence may happen in any workplace, workers in certain types of businesses are at increased risk of violence from the public.
Step 1
Assess the threat of violence in your workplace. Assign a group to evaluate the company's ability to prevent and respond to workplace violence. Identify the controls in place and those that are missing, develop a plan for improving the controls, prevention and response and write a workplace violence policy.
Step 2
Publish the workplace violence policy and inform workers that the company has a zero-tolerance for workplace violence committed by employees or against employees. Include the process required for reporting and investigating complaints. Insert the policy in employee handbooks and company policy and procedure manuals.
Step 3
Provide workplace protection by addressing areas of risk. This may involve installing electronic surveillance equipment, installing mirrors, securing doors, implementing minimum staffing requirements or requiring workers to use specific safety measures when working with the public.
Step 4
Implement prevention measures within the personnel department, including pre-employment screening to weed out potentially violent applicants, employee training, dispute resolution programs, employee assistance programs and inclusion of the issue in the new-employee orientation process.
Step 5
Implement workplace violence training for employees and supervisors. Provide special training for workers at risk of violence from the public---taxi drivers, late-night retail workers, healthcare workers and social services workers. Training lets employees know that the company is serious about workplace violence.
Step 6
Train all employees, especially supervisors, to recognize and report the warning signs for workplace violence. These signs include threats, bullying and other inappropriate behavior or comments, constant conflict with others, possession of weapons in the workplace, fascination with workplace violence incidents or identification with people who commit workplace violence, substance abuse, extreme behavior changes and comments about suicide.
Step 7
Encourage fair and consistent treatment of all employees, including promotions and disciplinary procedures. Promote an atmosphere of respect and require respectful behavior of all employees. Provide ongoing training in workplace-violence prevention for supervisors and managers.
Step 8
Keep records of all workplace violence training, reports, incidents and responses. Some employers are required to report such incidents. The records are helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of current workplace violence plans and may be used to support disciplinary decisions.
Step 9
Bring in outside professionals when necessary. Professionals may be needed to help after a workplace violence episode, to help resolve an ongoing situation that could result in violence or to provide training.
Step 10
Inform employees that they have a right to a safe workplace and that they have a responsibility to cooperate by following all rules and to participate by informing the appropriate office of any problems.
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