Put a Stop to the Violence: Lower your Risk of Workplace Aggression with Summit

Workplace violence: it could never happen to you, right?  But did you know OSHA reports that about 2 million U.S. workers each year are victims of some kind of workplace assault?  Or that the most extreme form, homicide, is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States?   Additionally, a study by NIOSH found the staggering statistic that up to 70 percent of workplaces in the U.S. do not have either a formal program or policy in place to address the problem.  Though workplace experts believe that greater awareness in recent years to workplace violence may have contributed to a decline in the mass shootings that captured headlines in the late 1980s and early 1990s, we still see incidents today, such as the Arizona killings that took place in January.   What’s more is that according to the International Labor Office, violence at work is increasing worldwide and has reached epidemic levels in some countries creating an enormous global cost of millions of dollars in losses from absenteeism and sick leave.

But what is workplace violence exactly? 

Workplace violence can be any act of physical violence, threats of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening, disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.  More specifically, violence ranges- but is not limited to- bullying and mobbing, threats by psychologically unstable co-workers, and sexual harassment.  It can affect or involve employees, visitors, contractors, and other non-Federal employees.

And how can Workplace Violence be prevented?

• Awareness/Training

Training is one of the most critical components of any agency’s prevention program, and is necessary for all employees, supervisors, and staff that may be involved in responding to an incident of workplace violence.  All employees should know how to recognize and report incidents of violent, intimidating, threatening, and disruptive behavior, and should have phone numbers for quick reference during a crisis or an emergency

• Threat Assessment

The basis of a threat assessment is to determine the seriousness of a potentially violent or stressful situation and how to best intervene. The purpose of the threat assessment team is to provide guidance on managing the situation in a way that protects the employees by evaluating the risks persons under suspicion may pose to particular targets. The approach and the timing for these evaluations will be specific to the circumstances of the potentially violent situation.

Once a threat assessment is completed, management will decide what additional measures are needed to fix the situation or what new steps are being taken to alleviate misunderstandings and confusion.

• Long-Term Security

There are a number of basic security measures that many USDA offices already have in place, sometimes in conjunction with neighboring Federal offices or the facility.  In addition, there are ways to create physical barriers between the employee and the hazard, and administrative procedures which can reduce the likelihood for violence.  Many offices already have emergency plans that describe procedures to follow during a fire or other emergency.   The plan should also cover workplace violence emergencies, including bomb threats, and should be specific to the type of facility, building, and the workers it covers.

• Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)

ADR processes are designed to help parties resolve conflicts with the assistance of neutral third parties to help prevent the escalation of conflict into violent or potentially violent situations.  ADR can be used as an alternative to court litigation or agency adjudications, or to help disputing parties resolve a problem that they cannot resolve on their own.  Other processes include facilitation, conciliation, mediation, and ombudsperson programs. The key is using ADR early, before emotions or conduct make discussion a non- option.

• Employee Assistance Program

An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is composed of trained counselors that address workplace stress and violence issues.  An EAP can be used to asses situations that may need to be brought to the attention of management or used to strategize ways to deal with uncomfortable or threatening situations.

Workplace Violence issues do not sit well with us here at Summit, and we would like to do everything in our power to prevent and correct such occurrences.  Our Online video “Workplace Violence: Prevent the Threat”, is the perfect way to begin transforming your workplace into a safe environment that will protect your most valuable assets – your employees.

Be the change and begin in the workplace. Call 800.842.0466 or visit www.safetyontheweb.com for more information on how to make your workplace a safer environment for everyone.