How to Plan for Violence in the Workplace

It is paramount that employers provide a safe working environment for their employees. Violence on the job can come from a variety of sources, be it fellow workers, customers or visitors. Planning ahead and having contingencies in place aids in curbing unfortunate incidents. It is better to be proactive than reactive, so no one has to get hurt for a lesson to be learned and a better plan to be put in place.

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  For some places of employment, especially late at night, the general public poses the biggest threat. walley's gas station image by Tijara Images from Fotolia.com

  Decrease employees' vulnerability. In work environments like convenience stores and fast food restaurants, where the customer and general public can pose a significant risk, it is vital to not have an inviting scene for would-be criminals. Keeping the establishment well-lit and well-staffed are key. For some places like social service claim offices and hospital emergency centers, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has recommended bulletproof barriers and increased distance from employees to customers.

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  Having your employees well-trained for an incident ensures a quick, safe resolution in the event one does occur. team work image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com

  Train all employees and supervisors on procedures for violence in the workplace. This includes prevention, threat assessment and safe, non-violent reaction strategies. Communication and a quick response are essential. No one has to be an expert on dealing with violence, but he does need to know who to call if such a situation arises. Have readily accessible numbers to call in case of an emergency. If your establishment has an alarm button, your employees need to know where it is and when to use it.

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  Pre-employment screening can be a useful tool in weeding out potential malcontents. Group of business people working together in the office. image by Andrey Kiselev from Fotolia.com

  Screen all potential new hires. While there is no magic bullet, one-size-fits-all method for doing this, it can increase your chances of inadvertently hiring someone who has the potential for violence. Questionnaires, background checks and if necessary, drug testing are all useful tools in this process. As long as the screening process complies with federal regulations and the potential new employee's rights are not violated, any of the above methods should prove useful.

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  Having a contingency plan in the event of a violent incident increases the chances for workers' safety. emergency exit sign image by kolesn from Fotolia.com

  Form a non-violent emergency plan, and ensure that your employees know it well. Prevention and proactive security measures are effective in curbing workplace violence, but there is no ironclad guarantee that it will not happen. Escape routes and emergency exits should be well-known by all staff, and the proper authorities should be contacted as soon as possible.

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  Create a network of resources for your employees to use. Post-traumatic stress is not uncommon after violent incidents at work, and having some form of counseling or stress management is recommended. Granted, not every business has the resources to implement such a program, but open communication, empathy and understanding are vital qualities for management to have. A little bit will go a long way.