Human Resources

As professionals who usually are the first and last people to deal with employee’s The Workthreat Group works with Human Resources to give them the tools they need to keep everybody at work safe and compliant.

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROGRAM

Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.

OSHA recommended elements of an effective violence prevention program:

  • Management commitment and employee involvement
  • Worksite analysis
  • Hazard prevention and control
  • Safety and health training
  • Record keeping and program evaluation

American National Standard Institutes Elements of a Workplace Violence Prevention Program:

  • Clearly defines unacceptable behavior prohibited in your policy, consistent with the definition of Workplace Violence.
  • Requires the prompt reporting of suspected violations of the policy and of any circumstances that raise a concern for safety from violence.
  • Assure employees that reports made under the policy will be treated with the highest degree of discretion and will promptly be investigated .

So what do you need to look for?

  • There are numerous traits often listed – loner; becoming withdrawn; blames others for issues; doesn’t accept responsibilities; etc.
  • However, there is no one trait more important than another
  • These traits, at best, might be compared to “probable cause”

Types of Serious Injuries and Deaths from Workplace Violence – so you must do something immediately

  • Physical Assaults
  • Beatings/ stabbings
  • Shootings
  • Rapes

Attempts to cause physical harm, i.e.., striking, pushing, or other aggressive acts against another person

  • Aggressive Acts Which May Indicate Risk so you must do something quickly
  • Disorderly conduct, such as shouting, pushing or throwing objects, punching walls, or slamming doors
  • Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm including vague or overt threats
  • Fascination with guns or other weapons, demonstrated by discussions or bringing weapons to workplace

Other Aggressive Acts To Consider… here you must do something soon

  • Obscene phone calls
  • Intimidating presence
  • Harassment of any nature

DISGRUNTLED EMPLOYEE

When dealing with disgruntled employees it is recommended that you follow these communication tips to reduce the chance of a violent incident.

  1. Recognize signs of anger before it reaches a critical point
  2. Always remain calm
  3. Show empathy
  4. Express concern for the patient’s feelings
  5. Allow the patient to cool off
  6. Use “I” statements instead of “You” statements
  7. Suggest an activity that might divert the anger from feeling angry
  8. Stay at a safe distance and do not invade a patient’s personal space
  9. Observe non-verbal communication
  10. Soften Requests

BULLYING/ HARASSMENT

A worker is bullied at work if:

  • a person or group of people repeatedly act unreasonably towards them or a group of workers
  • the behavior creates a risk to health and safety.
  • Unreasonable behavior includes victimizing, humiliating, intimidating or threatening. Whether a behavior is unreasonable can depend on whether a reasonable person might see the behavior as unreasonable in the circumstances.
  • Examples of bullying include:
  • behaving aggressively
  • teasing or practical jokes
  • pressuring someone to behave inappropriately
  • excluding someone from work-related events or
  • unreasonable work demands

Why be concerned about bullying in the workplace?

  • Studies show that productivity, teamwork and creativity are destroyed. Absenteeism, turnover and conflict increase in a bullying workplace.
  • Laws are forthcoming on this topic – recent law in Australia supports up to 10 years in jail for someone convicted of bullying.
  • Personal liability can exist, even in an organization, if it can be showed that you knew – or should reasonably have known – that bullying was taking place.

Cyber-Bullying: When Bullies Use Technology

  • According to the National Crime Prevention Council, cyber-bullying occurs “when the internet, cell phones or other devices are used to send or post text or images intended to hurt or embarrass another person.”
  • While bullying in the workplace usually pits one bully against one target, cyber-bullying can easily take the form of cyber-mobbing where you have many people against one target.
  • All that workplace bullies need to know is your email address or phone number. They can remain anonymous under an assumed email identity, or block their number when calling you.

ACTIVE SHOOTER

In a study done by the FBI of a 160 active shooter incidents in the United States between 2000 – 2013


Liability

There is case law that specifically suggests employers are responsible for not responding to probable threat patterns, even if committed by an outside 3rd party. (OSHA ruling of shooting at Univ. of Pitt. Psych Clinic in March of 2012)

The 2013 report commissioned by OSHA says that Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center didn’t put enough emphasis on protecting its employees from attacks. It went on to say that workplace violence prevention efforts are completely overshadowed by patient safety at the hospital. The clinic has subsequently spent about $10 million to upgrade security and workplace safety.

So what do we know about an active shooter?

  • Behavioral Concerns
  • History of threats or violent acts.
  • Threatening co-workers, students or others.
  • Verbal abuse of co-workers, customers, students or others.
  • Harassment through phone call or email.
  • Bizarre comments
  • Frequent aggressive outbursts.
  • Excessive displays of temper.

Triggering events that could lead to violent acts of aggression.

  • Termination or layoff.
  • A reprimand.
  • Financial troubles.
  • Family problems.
  • Separation.
  • Divorce.
  • Death.
  • Personal or professional loss.

Other things to know about an active shooter

  • They generally assault persons with whom they have had prior contact.
  • There has often been expressions of hatred or rage rather than contemplating the commission of a crime
  • They will always engage more than one target
  • Killing a number of people as quickly as possible, psychologically to diminish their own self-perceived pain
  • They are often trying to “beat” a previous record
  • They prefer to go to a location where there are numerous potential victims.
  • They will continue their attack despite the arrival of emergency responders
  • They are often better armed than the police
  • Explosives, booby traps, body armor and even diversions
  • They have always planned the attack
  • Prepared for a sustained confrontation with police
  • Escape is usually not a priority
  • They generally have already decided to die in the course of their actions – it was part of the plan
  • It may either be at the hands of others or self-inflicted wound