What is Workplace Violence?
· The workplace is any location, permanent or temporary, where an
employee performs work or work-related activities. Workplace facilities
include lunchrooms, restrooms, break rooms, vehicles used for work and
parking facilities.
· According to the Occupational Safety and health Administration
(OSHA), workplace violence is any physical assault, including unwanted
touching or any other offensive physical contact, threatening behavior
or verbal abuse.
· Examples of workplace violence could include -
§ Harassment of any nature, such as being followed, sworn at or shouted at.
§ Psychological traumas, such as threats, obscene phone calls, bomb threats or an intimidating presence.
§ Physical violence, such as hitting, grabbing, beating, stabbing, attempted suicide, suicide, rape or shooting.
· A United States Department of Justice National Crime Victimization
Survey reports that approximately 2 million assaults and threats of
violence occur each year in the workplace.
· Workplace violence contributes to employee injuries, stress,
increased sick days, reduced morale, lost wages and higher health-care
costs.
What are the categories of Workplace Violence?
· The categories of Workplace Violence depend on the relationship
between the employee and the person who is committing the violence. They
are -
§ Stranger on Employee
§ Customer on Employee
§ Partner on Employee
§ Employee on Employee
· The most frequently occurring category of workplace violence is
stranger on employee. The stranger enters the workplace to commit a
robbery or engage in another violent act.
· With a stranger, customer or someone else’s partner, you may only
have a few seconds to recognize if there is a potential problem before
it occurs.
· With an employee, you may have had the opportunity to observe the
employee over months or even years and be able to notice behavior
changes that might signal a potential for violence.
Recognizing the Warning Signals
· Potential warning signals may alert you to any employee or person in the workplace who could become violent.
· Changes in behavior are important to note in most cases.
· Look for patterns of changing behavior.
· No single warning signal, in isolation, is a reliable predictor of violence. Some factors may include -
§ Major changes in personal appearance, attitude or behavior
§ Change in personal relationships
§ Reduction in job efficiency or productivity
§ History of violent, reckless or antisocial behavior
§ Unusual interest in or unexplained preoccupation with weapons or bringing weapons to work
§ Serious stress in the employee’s life
§ Substance abuse
§ Unexplained signals of physical injury
§ Agitation
§ Unexplained interest in what you do at work
Escalating Levels of Violence and what to do
· The inappropriate behavior of a person prone to Workplace Violence usually escalates over time.
· Violent situations may progress through three escalating levels.
Regardless of the level of violence, ensuring your safety and the safety
of others is the most important action you can take.
· For levels one and two, responses may include -
§ Stay calm, listen attentively and ask the person to sit down
§ Ask the person questions relevant to his or her complaint, such as, “What can I do to help you?”.
§ Acknowledge the person’s concerns and try to find solutions.
§ Maintain eye contact.
§ Speak slowly, softly and clearly.
§ Avoid being defensive.
§ Identify violent behaviors, especially before they escalate.
§ Set ground rules/boundaries, such as “When you shout at me, I can’t understand what you’re saying.”
§ Signal a co-worker or supervisor that you need help by using a panic button or predetermined code word or signal.
§ Do not make any calls yourself. Have someone notify security or the local police.
§ Keep the situation in your control.
Talk with your supervisor.
· To respond to level three violence -
§ Get yourself and others away from the potentially violent person.
§ Know and follow the workplace emergency action plan.
§ Call 911 or your workplace emergency number.
§ Get out or hide. Evacuate the area.
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