NYMIR Law Enforcement Liability Project Overview
Download
Report
Transcript NYMIR Law Enforcement Liability Project Overview
Workplace Violence
Prevention & The NYS
WPV Act
J. Brett Carruthers, CSP
Manager, Risk Services
New York Municipal Insurance
Reciprocal
[email protected]
716.282.4890
What is Workplace Violence?
Workplace violence is any physical assault,
threatening behavior, or verbal abuse
occurring in the workplace
This includes, but is not limited to, municipal
buildings and the surrounding perimeters,
including the parking lots, field locations,
clients’ homes and traveling to and from work
assignments
Workplace Violence Includes:
Beatings
Stabbings
Suicides
Shootings
Rapes
Near-suicides
Psychological
traumas
Threats or obscene
phone calls
Intimidation
Harassment of any
nature
Being followed,
sworn or shouted
at
Did You Know?
Supervisors or domestic partners are
typically the victims of workplace
violence.
Each week, an average of 20 people
are murdered & over 28,800 are
assaulted at work in the United
States.
EXAMPLES
Verbal threats to
inflict bodily harm
Vague or Covert
Threats
Attempting to cause
physical harm
Striking, Pushing
and other Aggressive
Physical Acts against
another person
TYPES OF WORKPLACE
VIOLENCE
Violence by Strangers
Violence by Customers or Clients
Violence by Co-Workers
Violence by Relatives
EXTENT OF PROBLEM
We live in an increasingly violent culture
• Job-related homicides were the third leading
cause of death for all workers.
• The #1 cause of occupational death for female
workers.
• The #2 cause of occupational death for male
workers.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
1.1 Million Lost
Work Days
$55 Million Lost
Wages
Lost Productivity
Legal Expenses
Property Damage,
Public Relations
Increased Security
Risk Factors for
Violent Behavior
Cruelty to
Animals
High Risk
Behavior(s)
Destruction of
Property
Substance Abuse
Socially Isolated
Bullying
History of
Victimization
History of
Violence
Recent
Experience of
Loss, Shame or
Humiliation
What is the NYS Workplace
Violence Prevention Act?
On June 7, 2006 New York State passed
legislation, Article 27-b of the Labor Law, that
requires public employers to perform a
workplace evaluation or risk assessment at
each worksite and to develop and implement
programs to prevent and minimize workplace
violence.
WPV Program Requirements
Effective March 4, 2007
Risk Evaluation Determination
Written Workplace Violence Prevention
Program
Employee Information
Employee Training
What is a Risk Evaluation?
A Risk Evaluation is an inspection or
examination of the workplace to find
existing or potential hazards (Risk
Factors) for workplace violence
RISK EVALUATION
ELEMENTS
History of Past
Incidents
PESH SH900 Injury
and Illness Log
Employee Survey
Physical Workplace
Security Building
Surveys
RISK FACTORS
Contact with the
public
Working late night
or early morning
Exchanging money
with the public
Working alone or in
small numbers
Uncontrolled access
to the workplace
Having a dynamic
workplace such as
law enforcement,
public health,
mental health or
social service
employees
Written Workplace Violence
Program Components
Board Adopted Policy Statement (20+
Employees)
Discussion of Workplace Risk Factors
Discussion of Workplace Violence
Mitigation Methods
Workplace Violence Reporting Form and
Procedure
Policy Statement
Signed by the Board
Management Commitment
Employee Involvement
EMPLOYEE
INFORMATION
Requirement of the WPV Prevention
Program
Risk Factors in their workplaces
Location and availability of the written
WPV Prevention Program
EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Initially or Upon Assignment and
Annually Thereafter
Review of the WPV Prevention
Program
The importance of preparation in
preventing violence
Employee Training &
Education
The Act Itself
Your Workplace
Violence
Program
Risk Factors
Identified
Location of
Written Report
Protective
Measures
Employerinitiated
Protective
Measures
HAZARD CONTROL
METHODS
Make high risk
areas more visible
Install appropriate
perimeter lighting
Use drop safes
Decrease cash on
hand
Change Deposit
Times and Routes
Post signs – stating
limited cash
Train employees in
conflict resolution
skills
ENGINEERING CONTROLS
Visibility and
Lighting
Landscaping
Higher Counters
Video
Surveillance
Height Markers
Door Intercoms
Alarms
Panic Buttons
Bullet Resistant
Barriers
Administrative and Work
Practice Controls
Develop Procedures for Opening and
Closing
Limit Access to Remote Doors
Adopt Procedures for off-site work
Evaluate Staffing Needs for High Risk
Locations/Times
Working Relationship With Law
Enforcement
WPV Incident Reporting
Procedure
All Incidents of Workplace Violence Must Be
Reported
Need to Determine who will be notified and
whether law enforcement needs to be involved.
Initial Reports may be made orally, then
followed up with written report on Workplace
Violence Reporting Form
Barriers to Reporting
“That kind of thing doesn’t happen here.”
“They won’t come after me.”
“I can’t report this he’ll come after me.”
“I don’t want to get anyone into trouble.”
“When something happens people will
know how to react.”
“People just snap!”
Incident Reporting Procedures
To be completed by appropriate
Supervisor
Reviewed with Employees
Investigation completed
Confidentiality stressed
Retaliation stressed
Crisis Counseling Services
Can usually be arranged via the
Municipality’s Employee Assistance
Program at no additional charge.
Need to determine when these services
will be activated.
Crisis Counseling Services
Activation Example
Crisis Counseling will be provided after
there have been workplace violence
incidents involving:
Serious Physical Harm to 1 or more
employees
A Hostage Situation involving 1 or more
employees
An Employee Death
Additional Resources
NYS DOL Safety and Health Website
http://www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/safety
health/DOSH_INDEX.shtm
NIOSH
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaviolence.html
FBI
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/violence.pdf
IN SUMMARY
Risk Evaluation
WPVPP (> 20 employees, must be
written)
– List of Risk Factors
– Control Methods
Information and Training
– Initial Assignment
– Annually Thereafter
QUESTIONS