According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, of the 5,147 fatal U.S. workplace injuries in 2017, 458 were cases of intentional injury by another person. Workplace violence can be a threat or an actual act of physical violence, harassment or intimidation at work. Emergency plans, mock-trainings and zero-tolerance policies are essential. Here are other ways to keep the workplace safer.
Understand what it means. These are the four kinds of workplace violence: Criminal intent, where the perpetrator isn’t necessarily connected with the company or its team members, but is violent in the commission of a crime; also situations where a customer or client is the perpetrator. “A large portion of customer/client incidents occur in the healthcare industry in settings such as nursing homes or psychiatric facilities; the victims are often patient caregivers,” writes Chris Ceplenski at HRDailyAdvisor.blr.com. The third type is when an employee attacks another employee at work; and the fourth type is when the perpetrator has a personal relationship with an employee, but not the business.
Risky business. Factors increasing the likelihood of violence, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration: roles where workers exchange money with the public; serve alcohol; work late at night; or work in high-crime areas. Healthcare professionals, law-enforcement personnel and delivery drivers are among those more at risk. “Working alone or in isolated areas may also contribute to the potential for violence,” according to OSHA.gov.
Watch employee behavior. Be aware of co-workers who abuse drugs or alcohol; exhibit a decline in job performance or increase in absenteeism; make suicidal comments; are resistant to change at work; are paranoid; or complain about alleged unfair treatment. “Some people commit violence because of revenge, robbery or ideology – with or without a component of mental illness,” according to the National Safety Council at NSC.org.
