Workplace Violence

1. Workplace Violence

2. Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that happens at work

3. Workplace violence can include • Threats • Verbal abuse • Physical assaults • Homicide

4. Homicide is the fourth leading cause of work-related deaths in the US • Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year • Each week, an average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted while at work or on duty

5. A risk factor is a condition or circumstance that can increase the likelihood of violence in a particular setting It does not mean violence will definitely happen, only that there is a greater chance for it to happen

6. Risk factors can include • Increased work demands • Personality conflicts • Emotional disturbances • Unfair disciplinary actions • Drug or alcohol use on the job

7. Warning signs can also alert you to potential violence • Some warning signs to watch for include • Aggressive behavior • Failure to handle criticism • Holding a grudge • Frequent bad moods

8. Workplace violence can come from different people, not just your coworkers The four main sources of workplace violence are classified by the relationship between the victim and the attacker

9. The four sources are • Type I – Strangers • Type II – Clients or customers • Type III – Coworkers • Type IV – Personal relationships, including family, friends, and other people outside of work

10. To help prevent workplace violence, companies should • Maintain a safe and secure jobsite with security on the premises • Clearly communicate company security policies to workers • Create a zero tolerance policy on workplace violence • Enforce the rules fairly and consistently according to the zero tolerance policy

11. A zero tolerance policy means your company will not tolerate any form of violence orharassment

12. Do not hesitate to tell your supervisor about a potentially violent situation as soon as possible

13. If there is a complaint or report, your supervisor should investigate the complaint and follow through with the appropriate disciplinary action

14. Workers should be proactive when it comes to potential violence at work All workers need to be on the lookout for signs of workplace violence and take action before there is an incident

15. Tell your supervisor immediately if you • Are being threatened • Are the victim of a violent act • Witness a threat or violent act • Find out about a threat or violent act

16. Workplace violence is a serious issue for companies and workers Be on the lookout for potentially violent behavior and report it to your supervisor immediately