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Refuse to be a VICTIM
What Is Workplace Violence?
Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal
abuse occurring in the workplace.
The workplace may be any location either permanent or
temporary where an employee partner performs any workrelated duty.
Violence--- A killer lurks
• Third leading killer of civilians after
motor vehicle crashes and machine
injuries
Most likely to be a victim at work
• Cops
• Healthcare
• Retail
• People working alone at night
Denver post/ Healthcare safety bullintin
Is workplace violence really a
problem?
• Workplace can be deadly
• WASHINGTON (AP)--Every time a gunman bursts
into a workplace and opens fire, the nation is
shocked at the transformation of a place of apparent
civility and safety into a killing field. But a Justice
Department report released Sunday says one-sixth of
all violent crimes in America occur in the workplace.
– --Rapid City Journal, Monday, July 24, 1994
Headlines; Colorado
• Fired employee held in
shooting of co-worker
• An hour after he was dismissed, man
returned to warehouse and opened fire,
Denver police say.
• --Rocky Mountain News, Thursday, August 31,
1995
What happened? What would
you do different?
What would you do
differently tomorrow
if you have an
adverse incident
occur today?
Definitions of
Violence
 July 1, 1992, case
study
 A hospital murder
 Young man
murdered two
elderly female
patients
 Perpetrator was a
friend and neighbor
of both
Case study
Victim one stabbed
eight times
Victim two
witnessed the act
and was stabbed 15
times
Weapon was a
pocket knife
What were the
signs? Could this
have been
prevented? Clues to
the behavior?
Perp acting
strange?
Was there a
argument?
Did the perp carry a
different “attitude”
What were the
signs?????
Hospital’s defense ?




Did not know, nor could have known
the perp would commit the acts
Perp was a routine visitor to the
victims
REASONABLE security had been
provided based on information on
hand at the time
No history of violence in the hospital
And More
• Fired worker takes hostages
– --Rocky Mountain News, Wed., March 15,
1995
• Bombings have increased 52.5 %
Is there crime in Grand
Junction?
Crime
1999 2000
Violent crime
31
3000
Domestic
60
57
1500
Violent
Crime
Property
CRIME
Other
Sex offenses
17
26
1000
Domestic
38
Property crime 837 898
Other
2760 2755
2500
2000
500
Sex
Offences
0
1999
Hospital Security provided by
Security Professionals:
 Largest & oldest of the security
companies in Western Colorado
 Provides security officer, Vip
protection,alarm response with a central
dispatch
 Security for Walker Field, City of
Grand Junction events as well as State
Services Bldg.
Ron Smith- Owner
© Retired GJPD
© Mesa College, Brigham Young and
University of Colorado
© FBI Command School of Criminology
© Numerous criminal justice schools and
seminar's
Violence in the Workplace
Security is issue driven

Why ?

Timeliness
Violence this !
Who is a victim !!
According to Northwestern
National Life Insurance Company,
2,500 workers per 100,000 have
been physically attacked on the
job.
44% of workplace attacks
were committed by customers or
clients
Who is a victim ??
• 24% by strangers
20% by co-workers
7% by bosses
3% by former employees
Security Professionals brief
•
•
•
•
Local incidents
Hospital incidents
How to get help
How to report
Local Incidents !
• Local Retailer;
domestic violence.
• Background; whowhat-where
• What was known?
• How could it have
been prevented?
• Has the potential
existed here?
• In-house domestic
Violence
• Non-employee
looking for
employee partner
• Patients
More in- house incidents
• A patient in the unit hit his wife
• Security called, working with wife
• When police arrived, woman ran off
What could have happened?
What would you have done?
What if she had been armed?
Workplace Violence
Prevention Program
Community Hospital policyZero tolerance for
Work Place Violence
Written Program (Continued)
Security Policy
• The workplace violence prevention program
should do the following:
– Create and disseminate a clear policy of zerotolerance for workplace violence, verbal and
nonverbal threats and related actions;
– Ensure that no reprisals are taken against an
employee partner who reports or experiences
workplace violence;
Written Program (Continued)
– Encourage employee partners to promptly
report incidents and to suggest ways to reduce
or eliminate risks:
– Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining
security in the workplace;
– Assign responsibilities and authority for the
program to individuals or teams with
appropriate training and skills;
Types of Serious Injuries and Deaths
From Workplace Violence
•
•
•
•
•
Physical assaults
Beatings/stabbings
Shootings
Rapes
Attempting to cause physical harm, i.e..,
striking, pushing, or other aggressive acts
against another person
Acts of Aggression
Which May Indicate Risk
• Disorderly conduct, such as shouting,
pushing or throwing objects, punching walls,
or slamming doors;
• Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm including
vague or overt threats;
• Fascination with guns or other weapons,
demonstrated by discussions or bringing
weapons to workplace;
Acts of Aggression Which May
Indicate Risks (Continued)
• Obscene phone calls;
• Intimidating presence; and
• Harassment of any nature.
Types of Workplace
Violence Incidents
• Based upon the relationship between the
assailant/worker/workplace, violent incidents
can be divided into categories:
– Violence by strangers
– Violence by customers/clients/patients
– Violence by co-workers
– Violence by personal relationship
Types of Workplace Violence
Incidence (Continued)
Homicides
Leading cause of job-related deaths for women, second
leading cause for men.
Claimed the lives of 1,071 workers in 1994; approximately
3 workers died each day under violent circumstances.
Nonfatal Assaults
Between 1987-1992, one million persons were annually
assaulted at work.
Most likely to be a victim !!!
Where do you fit !!!
 Exchange of money with the public
 Working alone or in small numbers
 Working late night or early morning hours
 Working in high-crime areas
 Guarding valuable property or possessions
 Working in community settings (e.g., taxicab drivers
and police)
– Preventive Measures
Economic Impact of
Workplace Violence- Success pay
?
• According to the Department of Justice, assaults at
work cost 500,000 employees 1,175,100 lost work
days each year.
• Annual cost of lost wages totals more than $55
million.
• When the cost of productivity, legal expenses,
property damage, diminished public image, increased
security and other factors are included, the cost is
measured in billions of dollars.
What can we do to
fight back !!
• Make high-risk areas visible to more
people.
• Install good external lighting.
• Install silent alarms.
What can you Do !
• SCENARIO: you have been informed
that one of your partners is "on the
edge" and there is a definite potential
for violence.
 The employee is "in between"…past the
PREVENTION stage, but has not YET committed
violence.
 Even if law enforcement has been called, the
person is in your close proximity and may need
to be defused right now.
Now What ??
 The ball is in YOUR court. Do
you have the skills to
communicate in a crisis?
 You need to ask yourself, "Is
this a situation I can
diffuse?" Whether yes or no
proceed but initiate
emergency codes.
Do What ?
• Understand the mindset of the
potentially violent person.
• Take the moral "high road"
• LISTEN to the aggrieved party and
allow a total "airing" of the grievance
without comment or judgment
Do what ?
• Allow the aggrieved party to suggest a
solution.
• Move toward a win-win resolution
What we do !!
• Avoid resistance during a robbery.
• Have security check on workers
routinely.
• Restrict access during during high-risk
hours (late at night and early in the
morning).
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH-1998
Management Commitment and
Employee Involvement
• Management commitment and employee
partner involvement are complementary
elements of an effective safety and health
program.
• Employee partner involvement and feedback
enable workers to develop and express their
commitment to safety and health.
Employee Involvement
is CRITICAL
Should include the following:
• Understanding and complying with the workplace
violence program and other safety and security
measures;
• Participating in an employee feedback procedure
covering safety and security concerns; i.e.:
Phone, unusual occurrence reports, emails, and
• Prompt and accurate reporting of violent incidents.
Summary
Violence prevention programs and procedures are an
essential component to workplace safety and health
programs.
Performance-oriented approach of the guidelines
provide employers with flexibility in their efforts to
maintain safe and healthy working conditions.