Workplace Violence, Violence in the Workplace, Prevention Workplace Violence Policy

Understand Your Organization’s Workplace Violence Obligations and Responsibilities

What are the warning signs to prevent workplace violence?
It is important to realize that many violent incidents are predictable. They rarely come as a complete surprise. The employee, ex-employee or employee’s domestic partner is often known to be a problem or potential threat in the workplace. What is critically important is that we recognize the warning signs in time to take action, before violence occurs. Understanding these warning signs along with your organizations Workplace Violence Policy are essential ingredients to the creation and maintenance of a work environment free of violence.

Why offer Workplace Violence training?
Workplace violence can and does have a devastating effect on the quality of life for employees and on the productivity of your organization. Just as one violent incident can create massive cost to an organization – costs for medical and psychological care, liability lawsuits, repairs and cleanup, increased insurance rates, increase in security, lost productivity, lost business, not to mention the death, or injury of valuable employees and co-workers.

Over 1,000 employees are killed at work in the U.S. every year. Over 7,000 are seriously injured. At least one American worker will die today as a result of workplace violence. Is this not reason enough.

No one can guarantee the prevention or elimination of violence in the workplace. The objectives of Albion’s Preventing Workplace Violence training course is to make participants aware that many violent incidents are preventable and our training equips them with the required tools to more effectively deal with such situations.

Who Should Attend?
Albion’s Preventing Workplace Violence course is targeted to all employees, vendors, customers, volunteers, managers, supervisors and team leaders – in short anyone who can impact your workplace. The general course is two hours in length. An extra 30 minute segment is provided for managers, supervisors, and team leaders.

The Basics: A Workplace Violence Survey
This thorough workshop begins with a survey of why your organization has a Workplace Violence policy. Participants are exposed to the impact of violence and statistical information regarding the breadth of workplace violence. Your company’s policy is then presented with special focus on:

• The type of conduct covered by the policy
• Who is protected and subject to the policy
• Where to report possible violations of the policy

Next, participants are taught in a, interactive in legally complaint way:

• How to recognize the early warning signs
• What steps can be taken to resolve situations before they escalate into violent incidents
• What actions should be taken by organizations and individuals to prevent workplace violence

They are made aware of the typical profile of the perpetrator of workplace violence. In addition they are schooled in the behavioral indicators that trouble is brewing. Also, discussed are the Antisocial Personality Disorder traits and the Boarder-line Disorder traits which are signpost for Workplace Violence.

Albion’s Preventing Workplace Violence training teaches participants the Do’s and Dont’s to keep in mind if one is confronted by a person in the workplace and fear the situation might be on the brink of violence.

Introducing the WEQI: What kinds of conduct may lead to workplace violence? To clearly present the broad spectrum of workplace violence to course participants, Albion has developed the Work Environment Quality Index (WEQI). Similar in principle to an air quality index, this ingenious gauge employs the following scale: Green - No potential for workplace violence Orange – Potential for workplace violence exists Red – Workplace violence is imminent, has occurred or is taking place

During the workshop, each participant receives a WEQI and learns to use it to rate situations that are constructed from the Elements of Workplace Violence Model. The elements include:

• Workplace Violence Pollutants – types of conduct that can
  have a devastating effect on the quality of life for employees-
  and on the productivity of the organization
  Death
  Injury
  Assault
  Psychological damage
  Property damage
  
  
• Potential Pollutant Victims and Perpetrators – the workplace
  population engaging in and affected by violent workplace behavior
  Employees
  Spouse
  Friends
  Co-Workers
  Management
  Customers
  Vendors
  Contractors
  Others
  Terrorist
  
  
• Pollutants Effect – the costs to the organization
  Medical and Psychological care
  Liability lawsuits
  Repairs and cleanup
  Increased insurance rates
  Increases in security
  Lost productivity
  Lost business
  Death of employees and others
  Injury to employees and other
  Absenteeism
  Increased benefit cost
  
  
• Pollutant Vehicles – the means of distributing the-
  damaging workplace violence pollutants
  Guns and riffles
  Knives
  Explosives
  Chemicals
  Bacteria
  Body parts
  Animals
  
  
• Pollution Indicators – the warning signs that pollution
  may be coming
  Race
  Gender
  Loner
  History of violence
  Fascination with weapons
  History of conflict
  Signs of depression
  Paranoia
  Drug abuse
  Alcohol abuse
  Self-destructive behavior
  
  
• Behavioral Indicators
  Reduced productivity
  Increased need for supervision
  Externalization of blame
  Inconsistency
  Excessive tardiness or absences
  Unreciprocated romantic obsession
  Strained workplace relationships
  Stress
  Unusual behavior
  Substance abuse
  Depression
  Threats

CONTINUE