Despite the best efforts of managers and security personnel, there is always a risk of violence in the workplace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 458 homicides at work during 2011, the last year for available data. Additionally, there were 242 workplace suicides during the same year.
Managers should dedicate all of their power toward preventing violent acts at work. Basic steps like assessing potentially dangerous behavior can help avert grave situations, but there is always the possibility that an incident will occur. Companies should always have safety and evacuation plans to keep employees safe in the midst of violence.
Your HR staff must possess adequate training in order to develop a violence prevention and response program that:
Defines dangerous behavior
Workers rarely commit heinous acts without some type of warning. In most cases, attackers demonstrate patterns of dangerous behavior that signal they may hurt someone. Supervisors should constantly be on the lookout for troubling actions that could be precursors to violent accidents.
According to the human resources department at the University of California, Davis, threats, verbal abuse, and violent gestures are common signifiers of potential danger. Managers should always monitor their employees to ensure that everyone feels safe at work. Additionally, an open-door policy should be instituted so workers can always report dangerous behavior before the situation gets out of hand.
Creates a secure environment
The Lincoln Journal Star recommends implementing physical security measures to create a safe workplace. There should be security cameras in most rooms to ensure that all activities can be monitored by in-house personnel. Security guards should perform occasional sweeps of the office to ensure that no one is behaving suspiciously.
The news source also points out there should be limited access to every area of an office. Employees should be given key cards or personal access codes for parking lots and the building. If your company has multiple departments, only allow employees to enter specific areas. If there is ever an interdepartmental meeting, visitor passes can be used and returned immediately following the conferences. Every space should be well-lit to discourage criminal behavior and to ensure that security cameras can record every movement.
Produces an actionable plan
Even after you’ve provided the necessary human resources training, there is still work to do.
Even with months of preparations and preventative steps, workplace violence is still a looming threat. Do not rest on your laurels simply because you have a state-of-the-art security system and a well-trained team of guards. If you are not vigilant, a preventable incident can result in serious injuries and even death.
Work with your security personnel to create an actionable response plan in the event of an outbreak of violence. Install alarms and emergency phone lines so that employees can reach the authorities as soon as possible. Ensure that these safety measures are directly connected to local hospitals, fire departments and law enforcement.
Conduct regular safety training courses to ensure your employees know how to minimize the danger. Teach them how to find the nearest exits, stay calm and hide if someone brings a weapon to work. The classes could ultimately save some of your workers’ lives and reduce the amount of harm done by an unstable staffer.
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Scott Murray is the Social Learning Evangelist for TrainUp.com, the web’s largest career marketplace. He is also a contributor to their Training Insights Blog, a series of blogs dedicated to career and professional development.
