Violence, workplace

According to the Department of Justice s National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), assaults and threats of violence against Americans at woik number almost 2 million a year. The most common type of workplace violent crime was simple assault, with an average of 1.5 million a year. There were 396,000 aggravated assaults, 51,000 rapes and sexual assaults, 84,000 robberies, and 1,000 homicides. Again, according to the NCVS, retail sales workers were the most numerous victims, with 

000 being attacked each year. They were followed by police, with an average of 234,200 ofQcers victimized. The risk rate for varions occupations per 1,000 workers was as follows  

Police officers— 306 Private securily guards—218 Taxi drivers—184 Prison guards—117 Bartenders—91 

Mental health professionals—80 Gas station attend ts—19 Convenience, hquor store clerks—68 

Mental health custodial workers—63 Juni( high/middle school teachers—57 Bus drivers—45 Special education teachers—41 High school teachers—29 Elementary school teachers—16 College teachers— 3 

After completing this chapter, you will be able to 

Jane Doe had walked to work on a January evening because she could not afford to own a car. Minimal skills and education left her vulnerable in a number of ways. Jane worked as a clerk in a combination gas station-convenience store. At approximately 1 30 a.m., an unknown assailant walked into the store, ostensibly to make a purchase, but in reality to rob the store. Maybe Jane knew the assailant, or 

The increasing use of hospitals by police and the criminal justice system for criminal holds and the care of acutely disturbed, violent individuals 

The increasing number of acute and chronic mentally iU patients released from hospitals 

The availability of drugs or money at hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies, making them 

Factors such as the unrestricted movanent of the public in cUnics and hospitals and long waits in emergency or clinic areas that lead to client frustration over an inability to obtain 

The increasing presence of gang members, drug or alcohol abusers, trauma patients, or distraught family members 

Private security guards—218 Prison guards—117 Mental health professionals—80 Convenience, liquor store clerks—68 Junior high/middle school teachers—57 Special education teachers—41 Elementary school teachers— 16 

Factors which may increase a worker s risk for workplace assault, as identified by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)aie  

Management s commitment and employee involvement, may include simply clear goals for worker security in smaller sites or a written program for larger organizations. 

Worksite analysis involves identifying high-risk situations through employee surveys, workplace walkthroughs, and reviews of injury/illness data. 

Hazard prevention and control, calls for designing engineering, admirristrative and work practice controls to prevent or lirrrit violent incidents. 

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Minor, M. Preventing Workplace Violence Positive Management Strategies. Menlo Park, CA Crisp Publications, 1995. 

The best part about the site vulnerability analyses developed for chemical plants, Sem says, is that, while addressing terror risks, they also force companies to look at issues that are far more likely to occur workplace violence and theft of trade secrets. Companies shouldn t get so hung up on terror that they ignore internal risks. Given the wide range of threats today, it would be impossible for companies to prevent all possible scenarios. You can t put a dome over a chemical plant, but you can take reasonable steps to keep it safe, Sem says. 

Budd, J. W. et al (1996). Correlates and consequences of workplace violence. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology 1 197-210. 

Dickson, R. et al (1994). Intervention strategies to manage workplace violence. Occupational Health Review 50 15-8. 

Warshaw, L. J. and Messite, J. (1996). Workplace violence Preventive and Inter-ventive Strategies. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 38 993-1006. 

Respondent firm s experience with Labor-Management Safety Committee Respondent firm s experience with Minnesota Safety Grant Program Respondent firm s experience with Minnesota Log Safe Program Respondent firm s experience with Minnesota Workplace Violence Program... 

Fire Prevention and Portable Fire Extinguishers Walking Working Surfaces Job Safety and Environmental Analysis Offshore Orientation and Emergency Evacuation Personal Protective Equipment, Respiratory Prevention of Workplace Violence Marine Debris Fall Protection Introduction Permitting... 

United States occurs at work. Death and injury from workplace assaults can be cited under the OSHA Act of 1970. The employer is obligated to address workplace violence under the General Duty Clause. This clause, Section 5(a)(1), states that each employer shall furnish to each his employees employment and place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that cause or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees. ... 

An effective workplace violence prevention program starts with the commitment of management to the program and the involvement of employees followed by a written workplace violence prevention policy statement. The policy should state that the employer refuses to tolerate violence in the workplace and is committed to the development and implementation of a program to reduce incidents of violence in the workplace. 

Workplace Violence Awareness and Prevention, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Washington, DC, April 1998. Accessed NEED DATE from www.osha-slc.gov. 

Are procedures in place to prevent potential workplace violence/sabotage Yes No ... 

There has been an increase in employment testing due in part to post 9/11 security concerns, as well as concerns about workplace violence, safety, and liability. In addition, the large-scale adoption of online job applications has motivated employers to seek efficient ways to screen large numbers of online applicants in a nonsubjective way. 

The research authority vested in NIOSH has helped to fuel advances by NIOSH and its partners against a broad range of workplace hazards, including lead, asbestos, dioxin, coal mine dust, traumatic injuries, workplace violence, latex allergy, and occupational lung disease associated with butter flavorings. 

Environmental and ergonomic hazards inclnde slip, trip, and fall hazards, walking and working snrfaces, lighting, and tasks with repetitive motions. Psychosocial hazards address issues such as workplace violence, work-related stress, sleep deprivation, mental problems, chemical dependency, alcohol abuse, and horseplay on the job. 

Psychosocial hazards include substance abuse, work-related stress, and workplace violence. 

The newly revised Chapter 13 addresses security issues in emergency departments, pediatric locations, infant care units, medication storage locations, cUnical labs, forensic patient treatments areas, and behavioral units. The chapter also addresses communications, data infrastructure, and security of medical/health records. Chapter 13 covers media relations, crowd control, employee practices, and security operations. Facilities must conduct a security vulnerability analysis and planning for the protection of people and resources beyond a disaster event. Security education should address customer relations, emergency procedures, use of force issues, importance of effective de-escalation of tense tactics, and restraint usage. The new code reqnires the development of policies, plans, and procedures to address hostage situations, bomb threats, workplace violence, disorderly conduct, and restraining order policies. 

All hospitals should develop a comprehensive violence prevention plan. No universal strategy exists to prevent violence. The risk factors vary from hospital to hospital and from unit to unit. Hospitals should form multidisciplinary committees that include direct care staff as well as union representatives (if available) to identify risk factors in spedtic work scenarios and to develop strategies for reducing them. All hospital workers should be alert and cautious when interacting with patients and visitors. They should actively participate in safety training and be familiar with their employers policies, procedures, and materials on violence prevention. The NIOSH defines workplace violence as violent acts (including physical assaults and threats of assaults) directed toward persons at woik or on duty. This includes terrorism as illustrated by the terrorist acts of September 11, 2001,... 

Create and disseminate a clear policy of zero tolerance for workplace violence, verbal and nonverbal threats, and related actions. Ensure that managers, supervisors, coworkers, clients, patients, and visitors know about this policy. 

Ensure that no employee who reports or experiences workplace violence faces reprisals. 

Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace. This includes establishing a liaison with law enforcement representatives and others who can help identify ways to prevent and mitigate workplace violence. 

Assign responsibility and authority for the prevention efforts to individuals or teams with appropriate training and skills. Make adequate resources available for this effort and that the team or responsible individuals develop expertise on workplace violence prevention in healthcare and social services. 

Postincident response and evaluation can help prevent future violence. All workplace violence efforts should provide comprehensive treatment for employees victimized personally or traumatized by witnessing a workplace violence incident. Injured staff should receive prompt treatment and psychological evaluation whenever an assault takes place, regardless of its severity. Provide the injured transportation to medical care if not available onsite. 

A.2. This policy supports the written procedures set forth by the organization s safety and health workplace violence plan, which is incorporated into this policy by reference. 

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