Workplace violence is a major concern for employers and employees nationwide. Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, workplace homicides accounted for 506 (11 percent) of the 4,547 fatal workplace injuries in the United States in 2010. And nearly two million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases go unreported.
Who is at risk of workplace violence?
The truth is, workplace violence can strike anywhere, anytime, and no one is immune. However, research has identified factors that may increase the risk of violence for some workers. These include:
· Exchanging money with the public
· Working with volatile, unstable people
· Working alone or in isolated areas
· Providing services and care
· Working where alcohol is served
· Working late at night or in areas with high crime rates
Workers at higher risk include workers who exchange money with the public, delivery drivers, healthcare professionals, public service workers, customer service agents, law enforcement personnel and those who work alone or in small groups.
Preventing Violence
OSHA recommends a "zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence," while the FBI says "employers should adopt clear no-threat and no-violence policies and prevention plans." An employer should prevent the root causes of workplace violence by "creating an atmosphere of fairness, trust and cooperation between employees and management," says the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.
Other recommendations include:
• Communicate anti-violence policies to employees
• Survey employees to get their ideas about the risk of violence and preventive measures
• Train employees to recognize the warning signs of violence
• Provide violence prevention training for managers, especially regarding downsizing and termination procedures
• Provide physically secure workplaces
• Adopt staffing policies that keep staff safe on the job
• Cooperate with unions and other local businesses on employee safety
• Formulate action plans so managers and supervisors know what to do when violence occurs
"There is not one absolute factor that predisposes an individual to workplace violence," says Eugene A. Rugala, supervisory special agent for the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. "Managers and employees should be familiar with each potential warning sign, but look at a totality of factors including the work environment, the employee's home life and his or her behavior as a whole."
Managers and employers should beware of focusing too much on dysfunctional and violence-prone individuals, while not paying enough attention to the dysfunctional workplace, say Richard V. Denenberg and Mark Braverman, the authors of a book called The Violence-Prone Workplace: A New Approach to Dealing with Hostile, Threatening, and Uncivil Behavior. They identify failure to recognize and defuse conflicts as the primary causes of workplace violence.
"It is not enough to have an anti-violence policy on the wall and an employee manual on the shelf that purports to address the problem," adds Larry Chavez, an expert on workplace violence and crisis communications. He recommends providing formal instruction for managers to recognize and eliminate organizational risk factors that have led to violence in other organizations. "They must also be instructed in defusing hostile employees so as to prevent an angry outburst from escalating into violence."
For more information on preventing workplace violence, see OSHA's website at www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence/index.html or contact the PCOC Insurance Program department of Jenkins Insurance Services at (877) 860-7378.