Workplace Violence Prevention

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Mary Young
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1 Workplace Violence Prevention This is a mandatory exercise due every two years. Please review and return the completed Quiz and Acknowledgement Form to Home Staff.

2 What Is Workplace Violence? 1. Physical Assault 2. Threatening Behavior 3. Verbal Abuse 4. Harassment 5. Telephone threats

3 Examples of jobs at Risk for Workplace Violence Late night sales clerk Taxi cab driver Bank teller Emergency room nurse Family doctor * * Lowest risk job

4 True or False: Disputes between workers may lead to violence. True. Swearing at other employees is a behavior that could lead to violence.

5 How Can Violence Be Prevented on the Job?

6 Prevention Strategies Don t work alone late at night or early morning Call for a security escort if working late Carry a cellular phone Redesign workspace to prevent entrapment Train staff in ways to diffuse violence. Place curved mirrors at hallway intersections Control environment by installing surveillance cameras, alarms, or metal detectors Maintain good lighting indoors and outdoors Prepare plan for consumers who act out Control access to employee work areas.

7 Responding to a Violent 1. Isolate/secure the work area 2. Call if an emergency 3. Seek medical attention for victims 4. Report the incident to your supervisor Incident

8 Five Warning Signs of Escalating Behavior 1. Confusion 2. Frustration 3. Blame 4. Anger 5. Hostility

9 Warning Signs of Anger 1. The person may show a visible change in body posture 2. Actions may include pounding fists, pointing fingers, shouting or screaming 3. This signals VERY RISKY BEHAVIOR AND REQUIRE STRONG CAUTION!

10 Responses to Anger 1. Don t argue with the person 2. Don t offer solutions 3. Prepare to evacuate the area or isolate the person 4. Contact your supervisor and security personnel

11 Warning Signs of Hostility 1. Physical actions or threats appear imminent 2. There is immediate danger of physical harm or property damage 3. Out-of-control behavior signals the person has crossed the line 4. This signals VERY RISKY BEHAVIOR AND REQUIRE STRONG CAUTION!

12 Responses to Hostility 1. Disengage with the person and evacuate the area 2. Attempt to isolate the person if it can be done safely 3. Alert your supervisor and contact security immediately

13 THREATS DOs and DON Ts DO: If a fellow employee threatens you, report the incident immediately If a customer threatens you, signal a coemployee to call security If a person you know outside of work has been threatening you, inform security to keep an eye out for that person DON T: Tell the person to back off Ignore it Use another entrance instead of the main door to avoid being seen

14 ACTIVE SHOOTER WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Choose the best answer: A. PANIC! Grab all your belongings and run towards the door. B. Wave your arms and yell at the shooter. C. Hide and keep away from the shooter s view D. Pretend you have a weapon and are ready to use it CORRECT ANSWER IS C: HIDE AND KEEP AWAY FROM THE SHOOTER S VIEW

15 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION QUIZ Instructions: Circle the letter of the correct answer. 1. Workplace Violence is defined as any aggression or the threat of violence against employees. Which among the following people has the LOWEST risk for workplace violence while on their job? a. Late night sales clerk b. Emergency room nurse c. Family doctor d. Taxi cab driver 2. Which among the following behaviors may lead to violence? a. Being absent in office meetings b. Leaving work early c. Complaining about the boss d. Swearing at other employees 6. If a fellow employee threatens you, what should you do? a. Report the incident immediately b. Let it pass since they don t really mean it c. Tell this person to back off d. Respond back with a threat of your own 7. If an employee who is out-of-control begins to destroy office property, he/she is clearly demonstrating which behavior? a. Control b. Frustration c. Blame d. Hostility 3. Anger and hostility are warning signs that: a. Do not lead to violence, so no caution is required b. Do not lead to violence, but still require some caution c. Lead to violence but require minimal caution d. Lead to violence and require strong caution 4. Installing surveillance cameras, alarms, or metal detectors is an example of a(n). a. Administrative control b. Behavioral control c. Environmental control d. Personal Protective control 5. Telephone threats are not considered workplace violence since there are no physical contact between the person and the employee. a. True b. False 8. If a customer threatens you, you should: a. Ignore it b. Politely guide the customer out of the establishment c. Signal a co-employee to call security d. Fight back with a threat 9. If a person you know outside of work has been threatening you, what should you do? a. Inform security to keep an eye out for the person b. Fearfully keep it a secret c. Use the side entrance instead of the main door to avoid being seen 10. When there is an active shooter in the vicinity, what should you do? a. Panic! Grab all your belongings and run towards the door b. Hide and keep away from the shooter s view c. Pretend you have a weapon and are prepared to use it d. Shout at the shooter

16 WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT FORM Workplace violence is one of the leading causes of job-related deaths and has become a growing concern for both employers and employees nationwide. There are no specific standards at the federal level for workplace violence, however, the General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1) of the OSHA Act identifies that employers have a legal obligation to provide a workplace free of harm by teaching violence prevention. To reinforce my understanding of how workplace violence can be prevented, I have been trained in the following areas: An overview of workplace violence Public awareness OSHA guidelines Recent incidents Statistics The different types of workplace violence and the factors associated with those types. How to best prevent workplace violence Zero Tolerance Policy Environmental controls Administrative controls Behavioral controls Recognizing the signs of potentially violent behavior Overview of warning signs Levels of potential violence How to respond to threats of violence Recognizing the different types of assailants Cooperating with law enforcement I acknowledge that I have been trained on and fully comprehend all of the topics covered in the Workplace Violence Prevention training material. Additionally, I understand that if at any time I have questions about the company s workplace violence prevention policies or procedures or my responsibilities as it pertains to workplace violence prevention, I can contact our Company s designated Human Resource administrator. To ensure that your training history is updated, please PRINT your name clearly below. Employee Name (Print) Signature Date Keep a copy of this form for your records and return the original to your employer for placement in your personnel file.

Town of Cobleskill Workplace Violence Policy & Procedures

Town of Cobleskill Workplace Violence Policy & Procedures The employer known as the Town of Cobleskill has a long-standing commitment to promoting a safe and secure work environment that promotes the achievement of its mission of serving the public. All employee