Workplace Violence Prevention

It’s important employers provide a safe working environment for their workers and customers.

By Alexandra Walsh

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening
behavior that occurs at the worksite. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults—and even
homicide. It can affect and involve employees, customers, and visitors.

And it happens much more than people realize. Acts of violence are the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, of the 5283 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in 2023 in the United States, 740 fatalities were due to violent acts. Homicides (458) accounted for 62% of the violent acts and almost 9% of
all work-related fatalities.

However it manifests itself, workplace violence is a major concern for both employers and employees nationwide.

Who Is at Risk?

Many workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases
go unreported as well. Research has identified factors that may increase the risk of violence for some people at certain worksites.

Such factors include exchanging money with people and working with volatile, unstable people. Working alone or in isolated areas also contribute to the potential for violence. Jobs that involve providing services and care to others and working where alcohol is served can also impact the likelihood of violence.

The time of day and location of work, such as working late at night or in areas with high crime rates, are also risk factors that should be considered when addressing issues of workplace violence.

Among those with higher risk are, for example, business and bank cashiers who handle the exchange of money with customers, delivery and taxi/ride share drivers, healthcare professionals, public service workers, customer service employees, law enforcement personnel, and others who may work alone or in small groups.

Reducing Workplace Violence Hazards

In most workplaces where risks can be identified, the risk of violence can be prevented or minimized with appropriate precautions. One of the best protections is for employers to establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence. The policy should cover all workers, customers, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may come in contact with employees.

By assessing their worksites, employers can identify methods for reducing the likelihood of incidents occurring. A well-written and enforced violence prevention program, backed up with controls and training, can reduce the potential for workplace violence. It can be a separate program or incorporated into an overall safety and health program, an employee handbook, or a company manual of standard operating procedures.

It is critical to make certain all workers know the policy, are trained in preventing violence, recognize signs of potential violent behavior, and know how to react when an incident does occur. Above all, it should also be made clear all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and remedied promptly.

OSHA encourages companies to develop additional methods as necessary to protect their employees in high-risk situations. Protections can be providing safety training for workers so that they know what to do if they witness or are subjected to a violent incident. Just as important, training should involve how to de-escalate a situation that has already turned volatile, and how people can protect themselves if de-escalation fails.

Companies must secure their workplace. Where appropriate to the business, install video surveillance, extra lighting, and alarm systems and minimize access by outsiders if possible. Also, work cooperatively with property owners, lessees, local police, and other public safety agencies to improve security in and around the worksite.

Consider limiting the amount of cash kept on hand in the office. Keep a minimal amount of cash during evenings and late-night hours. Equip workers with mobile devices and hand-held alarms or noise devices when working in the field or other isolated surroundings. Require employees to prepare a daily work plan and keep a contact person informed of their location throughout the day. Keep employer-provided vehicles
properly maintained.

How Employees Can Protect Themselves

Nothing can guarantee an employee will not become a victim of workplace violence. Completing a workplace analysis can help reduce the odds. Encourage your employees to:

• Learn how to recognize, avoid, or diffuse potentially violent situations by attending personal safety training programs
• Inform an employer of disputes or problems before they escalate further.
• Review the workplace violence program and take part in assessing workplace hazards
• Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security
• Report and log all incidents and threats of workplace violence
• Avoid traveling alone to unfamiliar locations or situations
• Carry only little money and required identification.

How Employers Should Respond After a Violent Incident

• Provide prompt medical evaluation and treatment, including trauma care
• Report violent incidents to the local police promptly
• Inform victims of their legal right to prosecute perpetrators
• Discuss the circumstances of the incident with staff members
• Encourage employees to share information about ways to avoid similar situations in the future
• Offer stress debriefing sessions and post-traumatic counseling services to help workers recover from a violent incident
• Investigate all violent incidents and threats, monitor trends in violent incidents by type or circumstance, and institute corrective actions
• Review the violence prevention program to determine if changes are needed
• Discuss changes in the program during regular meetings with employees.

Enforcing Workplace Safety

There are currently no specific OSHA standards for workplace violence. Under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, employers are required to provide their employees with a place of employment “free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

The courts have interpreted OSHA’s General Duty Clause to mean that an employer has a legal obligation to provide a workplace free of conditions or activities that either the employer or industry recognizes as hazardous and that cause, or are likely to cause, death or serious physical harm to employees when there is a feasible method to abate the hazard.

OSHA on its website features “Enforcement Procedures and Scheduling for Occupational Exposure to Workplace Violence,” which provides guidance and procedures to be followed when conducting inspections and issuing citations related to the occupational exposure to workplace violence.

Employers that have experienced acts of workplace violence, or become aware of threats, intimidation, or other indicators showing that the potential for violence in the workplace exists, should implement a workplace violence prevention program combined with controls and training.

It’s the right thing to do to help keep everyone working and going home safely after a workday.

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Alexandra Walsh is the vice president of Association Vision, a Washington, D.C.–area communications company. She has extensive experience in management positions with a range of organizations.