While workplace violence has a variety of definitions, OSHA defines it as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.”
This definition encompasses a wide spectrum of behaviors, not just physical assault but other types of conduct that can make people feel unsafe at work.
Types of Workplace Violence
Common examples of workplace violence include:
- Threatening behavior, such as shaking fists, destroying property, or throwing objects
- Verbal or written threats that express an intent to inflict harm
- Harassment, which includes any behavior that demeans, embarrasses, humiliates, annoys, alarms, or verbally abuses a person
- Verbal abuse, including swearing, insults, and condescending language
- Physical attacks, such as hitting, shoving, pushing, or kicking
Who Is at Risk of Workplace Violence?
While everyone can face workplace violence, certain occupations are at higher risk than others. These include:
- Workers who exchange money with the public (like cashiers and bank tellers)
- Delivery drivers
- Healthcare workers
- Public service workers
- Customer service agents
- Law enforcement personnel
- Lone workers or employees who work in small groups
Stress is often a trigger for violent behavior, so those who work in high-stress environments may be at elevated risk for workplace violence as well. Unsurprisingly, many of the high-stress industries are also those where violence is more common, such as healthcare and education.
(Help your employees manage stress with these 8 Strategies to Promote Workplace Mental Health)
Are Employers Responsible for Preventing Workplace Violence?
I’m sure you’re wondering what an employer’s responsibilities are with respect to violence in the workplace.
Although OSHA doe
sn’t have any specific regulations regarding this topic, they do require that employers provide workplaces free of any known safety hazards. This includes not only unprotected leading edges and exposure to harmful chemicals, but also acts of violence. Employers must, therefore, take steps to identify the risk of violence their workers face while on the job and take steps to mitigate those risks.
A risk assessment for workplace violence should consider:
- The location, nature, and circumstances of the work
- The frequency and nature of previous incidents of violence at the workplace over a period of at least one year
- Experiences at similar workplaces
- Industry data on workplace violence
(Learn more about Workplace Bullying: An Act of War Threatening the Health and Safety of Your Employees)
Workplace Violence Prevention Training
Employers who identify risks should develop a comprehensive workplace violence prevention program, which must be clearly communicated to every worker.
Employee training should include:
- Recognizing the potential for violence
- Procedures, policies, and work environment arrangements put in place to mitigate workers’ risk from violence
- Appropriate responses to incidents of violence
- Procedures for reporting, investigating, and documenting incidents of violence
Working Together to Make Our Workplaces Safer
I can’t stress enough the importance of employers and employees working together to prevent violence and maintain a safe and healthy work environment. Workplace violence can be as simple as a verbal insult or offensive gesture, or as complex as a shooting or terrorist attack. Having strong policies, open lines of communication, and a culture of education and prevention can make all the difference.
Click here for the EHSQ Community live discussion with Mark Mann on workplace violence prevention and the challenges EHS professionals face when it comes to identifying the risk of violence in their workplaces.