Preventing Workplace Violence

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Beryl Sanders
5 years ago
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2 Agenda Fast facts: the prevalence of workplace violence Your right to a safe workplace The warning signs of trouble and immediate signs of danger What to do in case of an incident or an emergency Post-incident analysis

3 Facts About Workplace Violence 2 million American employees report being victims of workplace violence each year Hundreds of worker fatalities every year are workplace homicides Homicide is the leading cause of death in the workplace for women No workplace is immune to workplace violence!

4 Your Employer s Responsibility OSHA states employers must take precautions to identify, minimize and prevent the risks of workplace violence. You have a right to a safe workplace, free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.

5 Preventing an Incident If you work with high-risk clients or those that are prone to violence, have a plan in place and take extra precaution when those individuals are on-site Know the warning signs of violent behavior Always report the following: Verbal or physical harassment Verbal or physical threats Assaults or other violence Any behavior that causes you to feel unsafe Your safety is the primary concern!

6 Warning Signs of Violent Behavior Take note of customers or co-workers whose: Behavior patterns change rapidly Behavior changes disrupt the work environment Signs of stress are more elevated than normal

7 Warning Signs of Violent Behavior Changes in attitude Excessive absences or lateness, tardiness Changes in work habits Inability to concentrate Lack of performance Increased personal stress A fascination with weapons or violence Sudden changes in energy History of violence Increased use of drugs or alcohol Inability to take responsibility for their actions Making inappropriate statements Social isolation Complaints of unfair treatment Overreacting to criticism Poor hygiene

8 Keep in mind These warning signs don t always lead to violence Warning signs could also be just normal changes in mood. However, drastic personality changes, or changes in situation, may bring out violent tendencies Use your best judgment before reporting issues to a supervisor

Nonverbal Cues of Potential Violence Personal space violations Loud talking or yelling Shallow, rapid breathing Abusive language Avoidance of eye

9 Nonverbal Cues of Potential Violence Personal space violations Loud talking or yelling Shallow, rapid breathing Abusive language Avoidance of eye contact Changes in voice or tone Profuse sweating Repetitive motions, such as pacing Clenched jaw or fists Trembling or shaking Glaring, scowling or sneering

10 In Case of an Incident If an incident occurs, do the following: Call 911 immediately, if you can Remain as calm as possible; do not scream or panic Look the person directly in the eye and talk to them to gain time and calm them down Do not provoke or argue with the potential assailant Do not try to disarm the assailant Report all incidents, even minor ones, to security and management as soon as possible

11 During an Emergency Ensure your personal safety before helping others When you are safe, alert the proper authorities

12 Post-Incident Analysis If an incident occurs, learn from it: Were there warning signs that may have been missed? How did the individual enter the facility? Were they granted unauthorized access? Were authorities alerted promptly, and were customers and employees kept safe in the interim? Did employees follow the emergency action plan? Did the plan work, as intended, to keep everyone safe? What can be done, moving forward, to better discourage violence in our workplace?

13 Use Lessons Learned to Prevent Violence from Happening Again!

14 Thank You This presentation was created for by the safety professionals at RiskSOURCE ClarkTheders

Preventing Workplace Violence

Preventing Workplace Violence Investigate and Assess the Threat 1 You Never Think It will Happen CNN Video https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=cnn+workplace+vi olence+video&&view=detail&mid=5338200ca2626d4ca1