Workplace Violence

1. Workplace Violence Margret Meade Compliance Assistance Specialist Iowa OSHA 515.281.0896 meade.margret@dol.gov

2. What is Workplace Violence? • Workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting. The work setting includes buildings and the surrounding perimeters and traveling to and from work assignments.

3. Beatings Stabbings Suicides Shootings Rapes Near Suicides Psychological traumas Threats or obscene phone calls Intimidation Harassment of any nature Being followed, sworn at or shouted at Workplace Violence Includes:

4. What’s the Problem? • Violence is one of the leading causes of workplace fatalities. • The most common type of workplace fatality is a shooting during the robbery of a retail, service or transportation worker. • Assaults and threats of violence number almost 2 million per year.

5. Workplace Violence Hurts • Simple assaults: 1.5 million • Aggravated assaults: 369,000 • Rapes/sexual assaults: 51,000 • Robberies: 84,000 • Homicides: nearly 1,000 • Costs 500,000 employees 1,175,100 lost work days each year

6. Types of Workplace Violence • Violence by strangers • Violence by co-workers • Violence by customers or clients • Violence by personal relations

7. Risk Factors • Contact with the public • Exchange of money • Delivery of passengers, goods or services • Having a mobile workplace • Working alone or in small numbers • Working in a high crime area

8. Risk Factors • Working late at night or in the early morning hours • Poor lighting • Guarding valuables • Workplaces with no means of obtaining assistance • Lack of training in recognizing managing hostile and aggressive behavior

9. Workplace Safety -- OSHA • The OSH Act of 1970 mandates that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers have a general duty to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.* This includes the prevention and control of the hazard of workplace violence.

10. What Can Employers Do? • Create a zero tolerance policy for workplace violence • Encourage employees to promptly report incidents • Take incidents seriously • Work with others to improve security • Conduct training & employee briefings • Outline a security plan

11. What Can Employees Do? • Understand and comply with the zero tolerance rule & other safety rules • Promptly & accurately report violent incidents • Help evaluate prevention measures & provide feedback & recommendations • Help train other employees • Share experiences & solutions

12. What About the Workplace? • Install alarm systems & other security devices • Designate safe rooms or safe places to be used in the case of an emergency • Provide good visibility and lighting • Lock delivery doors • Establish a buddy system • Keep a minimal amount of cash onsite

13. What Should Training Cover? • Zero-Tolerance policy & procedure • Hazard identification & risks • Security measures & Emergency Action Plan • Reporting policy & procedure • Post incident response • Include all employees

14. Don’t hide from the problem – get help!