Violence In The Workplace
Violence in the workplace is a growing and serious problem. Homicide is the second leading cause of death on the job after motor vehicle accidents and is the leading cause of workplace death among women. However, workplace violence goes beyond physical assault. It can include acts by which a person is abused, threatened, intimidated or assaulted.
Are there factors that increase the risk of work related violence?
Some of the working conditions or factors that increase an employee's risk to violence include:
- Handling money, valuables or prescription drugs
- Providing service, education or advice
- Working with individuals who may be unstable
- Working alone
- Working where alcohol is served
Does my employer have a duty to protect me or to make changes to make my job safer?
An employer is not under a specific obligation or standard to protect you. However, under OSHA's "General Duty Clause," an employer is responsible for providing its employees "employment and a place of employment which are free of recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to … employees."
I work in the health care industry where violence is on the rise. How can OSHA make my job safer?
OSHA has issued guidelines for employers outlining the factors needed for a Workforce Violence Protection Program. The general elements of such a program include:
- A written company workplace violence policy
- The establishment of a threat assessment team
- Hazard assessment
- Hazard control and prevention
- Training and education
- Reporting, investigating and follow-up procedures6
- Record keeping
What elements should be included in a workplace violence policy?
The policy should include the following:
- A clear definition of what is meant by workplace violence
- Definitive examples of behaviors that are not acceptable
- The company's commitment to prevention of workplace violence
- The specific consequences of making threats or committing violence (zero tolerance)
- A mechanism for reporting all incidents of violence, which provides for confidentiality
- A description of investigation procedures and assurance of no reprisals
As an employer, how do I respond to a threat in the workplace?
If a threat appears to be imminent, law enforcement officials should be notified. Where the threats are against a certain employee, such as "I know which car is yours," it may be best to provide the employee who was threatened with options such as alternate parking, a change in work hours or the use of an escort to their vehicle. The threatening employee should be dealt with in a manner consistent with your violence prevention policy.