WORKPLACE VIOLENCE Making employees aware of security hazards

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE Making employees aware of security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co-workers Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Objective • To ensure that all employees are aware of potential security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co-workers through established policies and procedures. Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Background • Annual costs of workplace violence • 500, 000 employees lose 1, 175, 100 work days • Lost wages = 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 $ Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

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 Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Non-fatal assaults • Annually since 1987, just over one million persons were assaulted at work Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

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 performs any work-related duty Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Different types of workplace violence • Striking, pushing, grabbing, or other aggressive acts • Physical assaults • Stabbings • Shootings • Rapes • Armed robbery Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Acts of aggression/risk indicators • Disorderly conduct • shouting, pushing or throwing objects, punching walls, or slamming doors • Fascination with guns or other weapons • Demonstrated by discussions or bringing weapons to workplace Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Acts of aggression/risk indicators • Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm • including both vague and clear threats • Obscene phone calls • Intimidating presence • Harassment of any nature Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Types of incidents • Based upon the relationship between the assailant/worker/workplace, violent incidents can be divided into categories: 1. Violence by strangers 2. Violence by co-workers 3. Violence by personal relationships Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Who’s affected? • Those who work alone, late at night, and are known to handle cash • Persons going into inadequately lighted parking areas • Persons ignoring the potential for attack • Those working in high crime areas Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Why workers are at risk • Prevalence of handguns and other weapons • Increasing number of people losing their jobs • Ever increasing abuse of illicit drugs and the need to fund the habit • Overcrowded court dockets and prisons Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Five components of prevention 1. Management commitment 2. Employee involvement 3. Worksite analysis 4. Hazard prevention and control plan 5. Training Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Management commitment • Provides the motivating forces to deal effectively with workplace violence • Demonstrated by: • Organizational concern for employee’s physical and emotional safety and health • Equal commitment to employee, public health, and customer safety and health • A system of accountability for involved managers and employees Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Employee involvement • Enables management to express their commitment to safety and health • Should include the following: • Understand comply with employer’s safety, security and health programs • Participate in suggestion processes for safety, health, and security concerns • Promptly and accurately report violent incidents Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Worksite analysis • Step-by-step common sense look at workplace to find existing or potential hazards • Reviewing specific procedures that contribute to hazards and specific locales where hazards may develop • Threat assessment team or coordinator assesses job site vulnerability and determines appropriate actions Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Hazard prevention & control • Next step: • Design measures, through engineering or administrative and work practices, to prevent or control identified hazards • If violence does occur, postincidence response can be an important tool in preventing future incidents Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Hazard prevention & control • Engineering controls remove workplace hazards or create a barrier between worker and hazards • Alarm systems, other security devices • Panic buttons for employees in high crime areas • Safe rooms for employees to use during emergencies

Hazard prevention & control • Administrative and work practice controls affect the way jobs or tasks are performed Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Hazard prevention & control • Examples of administrative and work practice controls: • State clearly to employees that violence is neither tolerated nor permitted • Establish liaison with local police • Require employees to report all assaults or threats to a supervisor or manager Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Hazard prevention & control • Examples of administrative and work practice controls: • Try to always work in close proximity of co-workers • Arrange for visit to locations in high crime areas during daylight hours • Inform employees to be watchful of their surroundings at all times Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

If confronted with assailant • Move slowly, do not startle the assailant • Remain calm and do not confront them or resist • Take a mental note of assailant’s physical appearance • i. e. height, weight, age, sex, race, clothing • Immediately call 911 and inform your supervisor of the incident Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Training • Training ensures that all employees are aware of potential security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co -workers through established policies and procedures Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

Training • Universal Precautions for Violence: • Violence should be expected but can be avoided or mitigated through preparation Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

REVIEW • Be aware of what areas you are working in that are potentially high crime areas • Who can be affected by workplace violence? • Pay attention to your surroundings • What will you do if confronted by an assailant? Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency