Workplace Violence Training for Wall Street Journal

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Workplace Violence TrainingforWall Street
Journal

• Presented by
• Comprehensive Safety Resource, LP
• P.O. Box 201857
• Arlington, TX 76006
• 817-633-6121
• www.csrsafety.com

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Definition
Workplace violence is any physical assault,
threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring
in the work setting A workplace may be any
location either permanent or temporary where an
employee performs any work-related duty
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Definition Contd

• This includes, but is not limited to, the
  buildings and the surrounding perimeters,
  including the parking lots, field locations,
  clients homes and traveling to and from work
  assignments

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Workplace Violence Includes

• Beatings
• Stabbings
• Suicides
• Shootings
• Rapes
• Near-suicides
• Psychological traumas

• Threats or obscene phone calls
• Intimidation
• Harassment of any nature
• Being followed, sworn or shouted at

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Recent Workplace Killings
Source USA Today July 15, 2004
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Examples

• Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm including
  vague or covert threats
• Attempting to cause physical harm striking,
  pushing and other aggressive physical acts
  against another person

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Examples

• Verbal harassment abusive or offensive language,
  gestures or other discourteous conduct towards
  supervisors, fellow employees, or the public
• Disorderly conduct, such as shouting, throwing or
  pushing objects, punching walls, and slamming
  doors

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Examples

• Making false, malicious or unfounded statements
  against coworkers, supervisors, or subordinates
  which tend to damage their reputations or
  undermine their authority

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Examples

• Inappropriate remarks, such as making delusional
  statements
• Fascination with guns or other weapons, bringing
  weapons into the workplace

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Statistics on Workplace Violence

• Homicide is the third leading cause of death in
  the workplace
• In 2001, there were 639 homicides in Americas
  workplaces
• Assaults and threats of violence number almost 2
  million a year

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OSHA Regulations

• Each employer shall furnish to each of his
  employees employment and a place of employment
  which are free from recognized hazards that are
  causing or are likely to cause death or serious
  physical harm to his employees.
• -Section 5(a) of the OSHA Act
• Employees can be cited for violating the ..
  Clause if there is a recognized hazard of
  workplace violence in their establishments and
  they do nothing to prevent or abate it.
• -OSHA 3148, 1998 (Revised)

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Statistics

• Most common was simple assaults 1.3 million a
  year
• Aggravated assaults 325,000
• Rapes and sexual assaults 36,500
• Robberies 70,000
• Homicides nearly 1,000

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Economic Impact of Workplace Violence

• Cost 500,000 employees 1,175,100 lost workdays
  each year
• Lost wages 70-200 million annually
• Lost productivity, legal expenses, property
  damage, diminished public image, increased
  security billions

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Risk Factors

• Prevalence of handguns and other weapons among
  employees, their families, or friends
• Presence of gang members, drug/alcohol abusers,
  distraught family members

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Always know who you are letting into the building
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Risk Factors (contd)

• Solo work, often in remote locations, high crime
  settings with no back-up or means of obtaining
  assistance such as communication devices or alarm
  systems

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Working alone after hours
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Isolated parking lots
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Isolated loading docks
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Risk Factors (contd)

• Lack of training in recognizing and managing
  escalating hostile and aggressive behavior
• Poorly-lighted parking areas

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Workplace Violence Prevention Program Elements

• Management Commitment and Employee Involvement
• Worksite Analysis
• Hazard Prevention and Control
• Training and Education
• Recordkeeping and Evaluation of Program

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Management Commitment and Employee Involvement

• Complementary and essential
• Management commitment provides the motivating
  force to deal effectively with workplace violence
• Employee involvement and feedback-enable workers
  to develop and express their commitment to safety
  and health

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Management Commitment

• Organizational concern for employee emotional and
  physical safety and health
• Equal commitment to worker safety and health and
  employee/client safety
• System of accountability for involved managers,
  and employees

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Management Commitment (contd)

• Create and disseminate a clear policy of zero
  tolerance for workplace violence
• Ensure no reprisals are taken against employees
  who report incidents
• Encourage employees to promptly report incidents
  and suggest ways to reduce or eliminate risks

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Cameras throughout the property
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Key code and intercom
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Front door exterior phone
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Employee Involvement

• Understand and comply with the workplace violence
  prevention program and other safety and security
  measures
• Participate in employee complaints or suggestion
  procedures covering safety and security concerns
• Prompt and accurate reporting of violent incidents

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Employees must wear badges
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Appropriate uniforms should be worn
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X
Do Not Leave Doors Blocked Open At Any Time
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Post-Incident Response
Provide comprehensive treatment for victimized
employees and employees who may be traumatized by
witnessing a workplace violence incident
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Training and Education
Training program should involve all employees,
including supervisors and managers
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Whats Wrong or Right?
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Corrected Situation
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What Have We Learned?

• Do not argue or raise your voice
• Step away with a non-confrontational posture
• Do not do anything that might make the person
  angrier
• Respect the angry person and listen
• Call security or a supervisor

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Whats Wrong or Right?
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Corrected Situation
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What Have We Learned?

• Keep doors locked.
• Restrict entry with coded keypads, cards, etc.
• Add security cameras, alarms, and mirrors.
• Keep areas well lit.
• Require all visitors to enter through a main
  reception area, sign in, and use a badge that
  identifies them as a visitor.

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Whats Wrong or Right?
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Corrected Situation
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What Have We Learned?

• Park in a well-lit area close to your building
• Have someone walk to your car with you
• Have your keys ready before leaving the building
• Check around, under, and in your car
• Keep personal belongings close to your body

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AnyQuestions?
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Workplace Violence TrainingforWall Street
Journal

• Presented by
• Comprehensive Safety Resource, LP
• P.O. Box 201857
• Arlington, TX 76006
• 817-633-6121
• www.csrsafety.com