How to Prevent Workplace Violence Manual

Assault is the most feared personal crime. You can be assaulted physically, mentally and emotionally. Statistically, one in every four Americans will become the victim of a violent act during your lifetime, either at home, at work — or any place in between. Assaults do not just happen to “other people”.  Anyone — even you — can become a victim.

The How to Prevent Workplace Violence Manual uses a simple, straightforward and logical approach and problem-solving scenarios to help you understand the concept of personal protection — both at work and at home. By understanding the cause and effect relationships between personal and work habits, a company’s policies and operating procedures and the behaviors exhibited by both victims and offenders, you can implement both a comprehensive personal and company-wide security and safety program that will significantly reduce most safety risks.

It is suitable for your personal use and for all types of businesses — including retail, wholesale, service and financial services industries. This information is essential for preventing crimes of violence and for surviving violent events if your prevention efforts fail. Victims who prevent or survive violent events generally report having had a defensive plan of action, consisting of a strategy and thoughtful tactics and response techniques.

Is Workplace Violence Included in your Disaster Recovery Plan?

The How to Prevent Workplace Violence Manual is designed especially for those people who are responsible for any company’s safety and soundness: directors, executives, compliance officers, security directors, auditors and operations managers. The manual is a strategic planning, training and reference tool for helping you to decide what to do before, during and after a violent event.

Previous crisis or emergency management experience is helpful but it is not necessary for you to understand and to use the information. You will benefit if you are responsible for or assist with the development of safety strategy and emergency response plans, conducting operational reviews, training employees, or writing workplace violence policy and procedures.

The information contained in the manual has been acquired from thousands of interviews conducted during law enforcement field exercises; many more years of research; and the sharing of other professionals’ experiences in conversations, seminars and workshops. (160 pages, 38438 words)

How to Prevent Workplace Violence Manual
Table of Contents

Overview of Workplace Violence

• Assault
• Victims
• Offenders
• Employers
• Workplace Violence Statistics
• The Causes Of Workplace Violence
• The Economic Connection
• The Society Connection
• The Work Environment Connection
• The Legal System Connection
• The Media Connection
• The Substance Abuse Connection
•  The Domestic Connection
• The Criminal Justice System Connection
• The Gun Control Connection

Victims and Losses

• Violence Issues — Planning
• Simple Assault at work
• Sexual Assault at work
• Company Burglary
• Company Robbery
• Company Extortion
• Relationship
• Workplace Terrorism
• Random Acts
• Violence Issues — Action
• The Psychological Impact of Workplace Violence
• The Personal Victim
• Sense of Loss
• An Unnamed Fear
• Loss Of Productivity at Work
• Medical Costs to the Company
• The Company Victim
• Higher Company Insurance Costs
• Need For Retraining
• Increase In Business Losses
• Loss of Company Image And Reputation

Identifying Offenders

• Who Are Workplace Violence Offenders?
• Identifying Potential Offenders of Workplace Violence
• History Of Similar Behavior
• History of Mental Illness
• History Of Physical Problems
• Evaluating Violence Potential
• Predator Profile
• Batterer Profile

What Employees Can Do About Workplace Violence

• Workplace Violence Connection To Business
• No Connection To Business
• Recognizing the Danger Signs of Workplace Violence
• Reporting Danger Signs
• Personal Problems
• Co-workers
• Customers and Other Persons
• Strangers
• Implementing Defensive Strategies for Workplace Violence

What Employers Can Do About Workplace Violence

• Workplace Violence Legal Issues
• Pre‑Employee Screening
• Validating Past Employment History
• Psychological Testing
• Substance Abuse Testing
• Adopting Prevention Strategies
• Designing A Crisis Management Plan
• Developing Workplace Violence Policies
• Establishing A Workplace Violence Complaint And Follow Up Procedure
• Establishing A Workplace Violence Threat Policy And Procedure
• Conducting Exit Interviews to Prevent Workplace Violence
• Reviewing And Updating Security Programs And Procedures
• Documenting Security Events
• Installing Emergency Alarms
• Installing Surveillance Cameras
• Involving Local Law Enforcement
• Crime Prevention through Environmental Design: CPTED
• Conducting Workplace Violence Prevention Training Programs
• Establishing and Training A Workplace Violence Crisis Management Team
• Training Personnel about Conflict Resolution Techniques
• Providing Employee Safety Education Programs
• Providing Selected Services

What Company Supervisors Can Do About Workplace Violence

• Receiving Support From Management.
• Obtaining Information On Available Services
• Interacting With Employees
• Learning How To Handle Workplace Conflict
• Setting A Good Example
• Promoting A “Zero Tolerance” Violence Policy
• Employee Concerns About Confidentiality In Reporting Threats
• Following A Violence Prevention Procedure
• Observing Employees And Events
• Documenting Performance And Events
• Initiating Employee Meetings
• Making Appropriate Referrals
• Managing Threatening Behavior
• Taking Appropriate Action

What Security and Law Enforcement Can Do About Workplace Violence

• What Pro‑Active Security Can Do
• Forming A Security Committee
• Designating A Security Director
• Developing A Security Program
• Conducting A Risk Assessment
• Practicing Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design: CPTED
• Developing Prevention And Response Strategies And Tactics
• Developing A Documentation Procedure
• Developing A Company-Wide Training Program
• Coordinating Your Plan With Local Law Enforcement Agencies
• Maintaining Liaison With Law Enforcement
• Practicing Effective Inter-Department Communication
• Sharing Information
• Notifying Appropriate Persons
• Conducting Pre-Employment And Incident Investigations
• Investigating Threatening Calls
• Investigating Threatening Behavior
• Conducting Incident De-Briefing Meetings
• Providing Escort Assistance
• What Law Enforcement Can Do
• Liaison Officers
• Site Surveys
• Violence And Premises Assessments
• Non‑Violent Intervention
• Referrals
• What To Do Next

Workplace Violence Policies and Procedures

• Workplace Violence Procedures: All Personnel
• Crisis Management Team: Duties and Responsibilities
• Security Director: Duties and Responsibilities
• Department Leaders: Duties and Responsibilities
• Crisis Management Plan
• Bomb Threat Procedures: Management
• Bomb Threat Procedures: Staff
• Extortion Procedures: Management
• Extortion Procedures: Staff
• Media Relations Procedures: All Personnel
• Robbery Procedures: Management
• Robbery Procedures: Staff

Workplace Violence Forms

• Review and Training Meeting Memo
• Bomb Call Warning Form
• Incident Log Form
• Chronological Log of Events
• Extortion Telephone Call Form
• Coping with Crimes of Violence Training
• Employee Personal Profile Form
• Suspicious Incident Report Form
• Suspicious or Threatening Telephone Call Form
• Annual Training & Review Memo
• Training Sign-In Form
• Seminar Evaluation Form

TRAINING PROGRAM: Coping with Workplace Violence

— LEADER’S GUIDE