WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION For Public Employers NYS Department

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION For Public Employers NYS Department of Labor

NYS Department of Labor

What Is Workplace Violence? Workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting NYS Department of Labor

Definition Workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting A workplace may be any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs any work-related duty NYS Department of Labor

Definition Cont’d Ø This includes, but is not limited to, the buildings and the surrounding perimeters, including the parking lots, field locations, clients’ homes and traveling to and from work assignments NYS Department of Labor

Workplace Violence Includes: Ø Beatings Ø Stabbings Ø Suicides Ø Shootings Ø Rapes Ø Near-suicides Ø Psychological Threats or obscene phone calls Ø Intimidation Ø Harassment of any nature Ø Being followed, sworn or shouted at Ø traumas NYS Department of Labor

Examples Ø Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm; including vague or covert threats Ø Attempting to cause physical harm; striking, pushing and other aggressive physical acts against another person NYS Department of Labor

Types of Workplace Violence Ø Violence by co- strangers Ø Violence by customers or clients workers Ø Violence by personal relations NYS Department of Labor

Extent of Problem We live in an increasingly violent culture Job-related homicides were third leading cause of death for all workers. Ø The #1 cause of occupational death for all female workers. Ø The #2 cause of occupational death for male workers. Ø NYS Department of Labor

Economic Impact of Workplace Violence Ø Cost 500, 000 employees 1, 175, 100 lost work days each year Ø Lost wages: $55 million annually Ø Lost productivity, legal expenses, property damage, diminished public image, increased security: $ billions $ NYS Department of Labor

Number of Violent Acts to Government Workers in New York State Assaults & Violent Acts for NYS Employees Assaults & Violent Acts for NYS Local Governments 2003 2004 1290 1900 3600 3240 NYS Department of Labor

New York State 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. NYS Department of Labor

What Is Required By The Law? Every public employer should perform a risk assessment and evaluate their workplace to determine the presence of risk factors or situations that might place employees at risk of occupational assaults and homicides. NYS Department of Labor

What is a Risk Assessment? A Risk Assessment is an inspection or examination of the workplace to find existing or potential hazards (Risk Factors) for workplace violence; this can include: l l l Look at the history of past incidents; try to identify patterns or trends which occurred in your workplace. Review your occupational injury and illness logs (SH 900) and incident reports to identify injuries resulting from violence. Survey your workers at all levels regarding violent incidents reported or unreported NYS Department of Labor

Risk Factors Ø Contact with the public Ø Working late night or early morning Ø Exchanging money with the public Ø Working alone or in small numbers Ø Uncontrolled access to the workplace Ø Having a mobile workplace such as a police cruiser, fire fighter or ambulance service NYS Department of Labor

Risk Factors Ø Prevalence of handguns and other weapons among the public, employees, or clients Ø Solo work, often in remote locations, high crime settings with no back-up or means of obtaining assistance such as communication devices or alarm systems NYS Department of Labor

Risk Factors (cont’d) Ø Lack of training in recognizing and managing escalating hostile and aggressive behavior Ø Poorly-lighted parking areas NYS Department of Labor

Workplace Violence Prevention Program Ø List of Risk Factors found during analysis Ø Methods used for Hazard Prevention and Control Ø Written plan required if you have 20 or more full time employees Ø Management Commitment and Employee Involvement NYS Department of Labor

Methods Used For Hazard Prevention and Control Could Include: Ø Make high risk areas more visible Ø Install more lighting Ø Use drop safes, decrease cash on hand Ø Post signs – stating limited cash Ø Train employees on conflict resolution Ø Need a system to respond NYS Department of Labor

Engineering Controls Ø Visibility and Ø Door detectors, lighting Ø Drop safes Ø Video surveillance Ø Height markers buzzers Ø Alarms Ø Bullet resistant barriers NYS Department of Labor

Administrative and Work Practice Controls Ø Lock delivery doors Ø Establish rules for workers leaving facility Ø Lock doors when not open, procedures for opening and closing Ø Limit access Ø Adopt safety procedures for off-site work NYS Department of Labor

Administrative and Work Practice Controls Ø State clearly to patients, clients, and employees that violence will not be tolerated or permitted Ø Establish liaison with local police and state prosecutors Ø Require employees to report all assaults and threats Ø Set up trained response teams to respond to emergencies NYS Department of Labor

Administrative and Work Practice Controls Ø Integrate violence prevention into daily procedures Ø Minimal cash in register Ø Emergency procedures, systems of communication Ø Procedures to use barriers & enclosures Ø Evaluate staffing needs for high risk locations/times NYS Department of Labor

Management Commitment and Employee Involvement Ø Complementary and essential Ø Management commitment provides the motivating force to deal effectively with workplace violence Ø Employee involvement and feedback-enable workers to develop and express their commitment to safety and health NYS Department of Labor

Employee Involvement Understand comply with the workplace violence prevention program and other safety and security measures Ø Participate in employee complaints or suggestion procedures covering safety and security concerns Ø Prompt and accurate reporting of violent incidents Ø NYS Department of Labor

Post-Incident Response Ø Trauma-crisis counseling Ø Critical incident stress debriefing Ø Employee assistance programs to assist victims NYS Department of Labor

Training and Education Ø Ø Ø Initially or upon assignment and annually thereafter Review of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program Risk Factors Methods for employees to protect themselves Controls/procedures put in place by the employer Workplace Violence Program NYS Department of Labor

Training and Education Employees should understand concept of “Universal Precautions for Violence” - i. e. , that violence should be expected but can be avoided or mitigated through preparation Ø Employees should be instructed to limit physical interventions in workplace altercations unless designated emergency response team or security personnel are available Ø NYS Department of Labor

Training and Education Training program should involve all employees, including supervisors and managers NYS Department of Labor

Training and Education Workplace violence prevention policy Ø Risk factors that cause or contribute to assaults Ø Early recognition of escalating behavior or warning signs Ø Ways to prevent volatile situations Ø Standard response action plan for violent situations Ø Location and operation of safety devices Ø NYS Department of Labor

Recordkeeping and Evaluation Ø Recordkeeping and evaluation of the violence prevention program are necessary to determine overall effectiveness and Identify deficiencies or changes that should be made NYS Department of Labor

Recordkeeping Ø DOSH Log of Injury and Illness (SH 900) Ø Reports of work injuries from assaults Ø Incidents of abuse, verbal attacks or aggressive behavior Ø Information on patients with history of violence Ø Minutes of safety meetings, records of hazard analyses and corrective actions Ø Records of all training programs NYS Department of Labor

Evaluation Ø Establish uniform violence reporting system and regular review of reports Ø Review reports of minutes from staff meetings on safety issues Ø Analyze trends and rates in illness/injury or fatalities caused by violence Ø Measure improvement based on lowering frequency and severity of workplace violence NYS Department of Labor

In Summary Ø Risk Evaluation Ø WPVPP (> 20 employees, must be written) l l List of Risk Factors Control Methods Ø Information and Training l l Initial Assignment Annually Thereafter NYS Department of Labor

Additional Resources Ø NYS DOL Safety and Health website l http: //www. labor. state. ny. us/workerprotection/s afetyhealth/DOSH_INDEX. shtm Ø NIOSH l http: //www. cdc. gov/niosh/injury/traumaviolence. html Ø FBI l http: //www. fbi. gov/publications/violence. pdf NYS Department of Labor