Work Place Violence

2. Work Place Violence Lucy Carracedo TVC Veteran Service Officer

3. National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health • Statistics….. • Violence has reached “epidemic proportions” • 111,000 violent incidents per year • 750 - 1,000 workplace homicides per year • The second leading cause of death in the workplace overall

4. WHY? North American Industry Classification System (Health Care and Social Assistance-code 62) • Occupations with highest workplace assaults. • Psychiatric Nurse • Deputy Sheriff • Social Worker • Veterans Services

5. Objectives • Definition and Cost • Types of Violence • Risk Factors • Warning Signs • Prevention • Challenging Situations

6. Definition: Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work place setting. • Shootings • Stabbings • Rapes • Beatings • Suicides and near suicides • Physical assault • Psychological traumas • Threats, obscene or rude phone calls • Intimidation • Harassment of any nature • Being followed • Being verbally harassed

7. Definition (cont’d) • Work Place • Parking lots • Field locations • Client’s homes • Traveling to and from work assignments

8. Cost • Annual lost workdays: • 1,176,000 by • 500,000 employees at • 3.5 days per incident • Lost wages – approximately $55 million

9. Additional Cost • Lost productivity • Legal expenses • Property damages • Diminished public image • Increased security

10. Ultimate Cost Human Factor • Victims • Families • Co-workers • Customers • Employers • Communities

11. Types of Violence • Based on Relationship of Victim and Offender • Violence by Strangers • Violence by Customers or Clients • Violence by Co-workers • Violence by Personal Relations

12. Violence by Strangers • Perpetrator has no relationship to worker or workplace. • Most common: • Robbery • Mugging • Rape • Acts of Terrorism

13. Violence by Clients • Claimants/Clients. • A client complaint escalating into a fistfight. • A former client with a grudge against the business deciding to “get even.”

14. Violence by Co-workers • Current or former employees, work-studies, supervisors or managers • Bullying or threatening co-workers • Dispute with supervisor becoming violent • Office shooting triggered by a personnel action such as a firing or mass layoff • Includes threats to family members (i.e. an employee threatening to harm his or her supervisor’s family)

15. Violence by Personal Relations • Current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend • Relative • Friend • Any combination of • A relative may enter a workplace to confront the victim over a family dispute

16. Risk Factors Contact with the public Working with unstable or volatile persons Delivery of goods or services Mobile workplace - “Out-reach” days Working alone or in small numbers Working late or early morning hours Working in high-crime areas

18. Risk Factors “Profile” of a Perpetrator:

19. THERE IS NO PROFILE

20. Warning Signs • Frequent conflicts with others • Difficulty accepting authority • History of past conflicts or violence • Dramatic behavior or personality change • Increased absenteeism and reduced productivity • Approval of violence to resolve problems • Indications of depression/desperation • Substance abuse: drugs or alcohol • Excuses and blaming others

21. Warning Signs (cont’d) • Inconsistent work habits or behavior • Strained work or family relationships • Changes in health, hygiene or attire • Inability to concentrate • Loitering around or loner • Extremist attitudes and opinions • Frequent arguments, threatening gestures • Aggressive behavior or mental illness • Fascination with weapons or killing power Anything that makes YOU uncomfortable!

22. Prevention • Environmental • Adequate lighting inside and outside • Secured entrances and accessible exits • Security hardware: • Key or Smart Cards/Dead Bolts/Peep Hole • Physical Barriers and alarms • Metal detectors • Cameras • Speed dial 9-1-1 • Never close doors

23. Prevention (cont’d) • Behavioral/Interpersonal • Practice safety procedures – have a plan • Create a duress word or gesture for help • Organize your office for ease in exiting • Do not work alone – use buddy system • Stay mentally and physically alert • Don’t ever get complacent!

28. Challenging Situations • A fist-shaking customer yells, “You’ll be sorry!” at a work-study, but doesn’t strike her • Jim is working in his office when his sister’s ex-husband threatens him with a knife, demanding to know where his sister is hiding

29. Challenging Situations (cont’d) • Rashid Siddiq, a TVC employee, is harassed by a Work-study who shouts racial slurs and threatens to follow him home with a gun • Deena Jones is working alone in the County Veteran’s Service Office when a man wearing a ski mask and carrying a shotgun comes in upset because he hasn’t received his VA check

30. Summary • Workplace violence can and does happen • You cannot predict the behavior of others • Educate and prepare yourself as well as your staff • Practice safety and stay alive YOU ARE IMPORTANT!

31. Fred Our Attack Fish