PROGRAM STATEMENT

Workplace violence is an ever increasing opportunity to encounter. The program is designed to higten your sence of awareness about the security of your workplace.

Types of Workplace Violence
Workplace violence is not always the result of a hired employee. In fact, individuals from outside the workplace commit the majority of threats and violent acts. A current or former customer, client, or patient is often the assailant when the company or organization provides services to the public. A spouse, relative, friend, or acquaintance may be to blame when the incident involves a domestic or romantic dispute. And in some cases, it may be that the assailant has no relationship to the company or its employees, but rather enters the establishment with the intent of committing a crime.

This distinction (i.e., the attacker's relationship to the workplace) is one way in which workplace violence is categorized. Understanding the motives and characteristics of each category (or type) will help you determine two areas of vulnerability.

Violence in the Course of a Crime
An individual who has no legitimate relationship to the workplace, usually commits workplace violence that occurs during the course of a crime. While he may feign being a customer as a pretext to enter the establishment, his primary motive is to commit a robbery or other criminal act. Employees who are at greatest risk from this type of violence have face-to-face contact and exchange money with the public. They often work alone or in small numbers, and work late at night and early into the morning. Prime hours for such attacks are between 7 PM and 2 AM.

This type of violence accounts for the majority of workplace homicides, and represents irregular occurrences in the daily life of any particular at-risk establishment.

Violence by a Current/Former Client, Patient or Customer
Threats and other acts of violence committed by current or former clients, patients, and customers are increasing in number, and for many service establishments, represent a daily occurrence. At greatest risk from this type of violence are public and private service sector employees who provide professional, safety, administrative, or business services to the public. Motives for this type of violence vary significantly.

There are assaults against law enforcement officials; it may be revenge or simply an effort to resist arrest. For other service providers, violence may be brought on by an attempt to resist treatment or by a general dissatisfaction with services received. And in some cases, it may just be a matter of being in the wrong place at the wrong time and getting caught in the crossfire.

As more data on non-fatal violence becomes available, such acts against service providers may prove to be the most prevalent type of workplace violence.

High-Risk Workplaces

*Including acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, home health agencies, inpatient facilities, and residential sites.

Typical Victims

Violence that is Employment-Related
Employment-related violence is not associated with any specific type of workplace or occupation. The assailant may be a current or former employee, supervisor, or manager. This individual may also be a spouse, lover, relative, friend, or acquaintance of an employee. In most cases, the assailant's actions are motivated by psychosocial factors, as well as by difficulties in his relationship with the victim.

The primary target of employment-related violence is a co-worker, supervisor, or manager. In committing the assault, the individual is typically seeking revenge for what is perceived as unfair treatment. Some circumstances that may trigger an attack include:

Increasingly, however, this type of violence involves domestic or romantic disputes. In such cases, an employee is threatened in the workplace by an individual with whom he or she is having a relationship outside of work.

While most employment-related violence is limited to threats, verbal harassment, and nonfatal injuries, fatalities often attract significant media attention. Therefore, they are made to appear much more common than they actually are. Statistics prove, however, that the other two types of workplace violence account for the vast majority of fatal episodes.

Primary Motives

Assailants

Current or former employee, supervisor, or manager.A person known by a current employee, supervisor, or manager (e.g., current/former spouse or lover, relative, friend, or acquaintance)

There are two different basic issues in dealing with violence in the workplace. There is the management issue of protecting the workplace - setting up security systems, adding more lights, implementing personnel policies, etc. Then, there is the employee's issue of protecting themselves - being more aware of co-workers behavior, knowing the procedures for getting help, reporting to supervisors about threats or aggressive behavior in the workplace.

Obviously, the typical worker cannot implement new personnel policies or set up a security system. The worker should focus on those areas he/she can control - protecting himself. Many people don't want to deal with the issue. They feel that their employerhould take care of them. But look around you. In most environments, there would be ample opportunity for a robbery, rape, or assault, even if you have a security guard. The guard can't be everywhere at once.

The employees must be an integral part of any security system that is set up. They must be aware that they should report any unfamiliar people hanging around the facility, or parking area. They should go to their supervisor or manager if any threats or aggressive behavior occurs in the workplace. Any information about vandalism or thefts, or verbal or physical abuse, no matter how minor, should be reported.

Recognizing the Potentially Violent Employee
The following material will give employees grounding in what is known about individuals who become violent.
Companies that have experienced workplace violence often learn, too late, that it is possible to identify a potentially violent employee.

Profile: potentially violent employee

Like many employees in today's workforce, this individual has experienced prolonged periods of stress. He may be under pressure to improve performance, unable to resolve differences with a supervisor or co-worker, or threatened by the likelihood of a layoff. He may also be experiencing personal problems, coping with a drug/alcohol addiction, or trying desperately to meet financial obligations. However, the difference between this employee and other employees, is that he lacks the ability and support systems to deal with stress effectively. He may believe that his only recourse is to threaten or physically harm the individual (or organization) that in his mind, is the source of the problem.

Typically this individual:

General Characteristics

Characteristics of a Lethally-Violent Employee

Characteristics of a Non-lethally Violent Employee

Handling Potentially Violent Employees
Often, internally generated acts of workplace violence occur after a series of unheeded warning signs. A troubled employee may make overt threats; exhibit major personality changes, or shows signs of severe depression. If he feels these signs are being ignored, he may feel justified in moving to the next level. A traumatic event in the employee's life - like a bad performance review or financial crisis - could accelerate the employee's decision to commit a violent act.

To prevent situations from escalating into violence, supervisors and managers must be on the lookout for employees who fit the profile and are under a great deal of stress. They should also be alert to the warning signs and circumstances that typically precede a violent outburst.

Violence is often preceded by warning signs, such as:

Circumstances that may trigger violent behavior include:

Supervisors and managers should intervene at the first signs of trouble. Many times, all that is needed at the early stages is a listening ear. However, if the warning signs involve threats or other prohibited behaviors, it is imperative that the employee be disciplined in accordance with TWU Human Resource Operating Policy. This will send a clear message to the employee that threats and other such acts will not be tolerated.

When meeting with a troubled and potentially-violent employee, a supervisor or manager can increase his or her chances of getting through to the employee by conveying a genuine concern, using effective listening skills, and remaining focused on observed behavior. He or she must remember that the purpose of intervening is not to lay blame or judge the employee, but to determine the cause of his problems and appropriate measures that can be taken to resolve them. This can be done as follows:

Event Measures

Post-Event Measures

Workers in Office Buildings and Businesses
This information is aimed at you, the employee, providing information so that you can better protect yourself. Obviously this category of "employee" is very broad, covering many different types of jobs.

Because so many people work in office buildings, and there are hazards specific to that type of environment, this section gives some warnings to those workers.

If you work in or visit an office building you should take the following precautions:

When you work at an office building:

• Know your neighbors. Know who works at what time and who can be of help during emergencies. Extend your cooperation to your neighbors should they need your help.

• Be especially careful when leaving your office and going to your car. Garages and parking areas are prime attack locations. If possible, have yourself escorted to your car after dark.

• Should a suspicious person enter your office, immediately proceed to give them a story that indicates that someone is going to arrive very soon. Such a "white lie" just might prevent the stranger from trying something, since he believes someone is going to arrive soon.

Elevators

• Never get into an elevator if you are uncomfortable with a person in the elevator. Should you arrive at your desired floor and see a suspicious person lurking on the floor, don't get out. Take the elevator to another floor where there are other people.

• The safest way to ride is with someone you know someone who lives, works in, or visits the building. Be wary of riding with people, who simply appear, by their nature, suspicious.

• When entering an elevator, always position yourself within hands reach of the control panel. This will enable you to hit the alarm button should the need arise.

• Avoid taking the elevator to the basement especially at night. Basements are prime assault and rape areas of a building.

Homicides in the Workplace
Homicide is the third leading cause of death from occupational injury for all workers. Guns are the most commonly used weapons. Employers and workers should take the following steps to protect themselves from homicide in the workplace.

Be aware of which workplaces and occupations have the highest risk of work-related homicides:

Workplaces

Occupations

The factors that may increase the risk of homicide:

Evaluate your workplace and take steps that may prevent homicides.

Preventive measures may include the following: