Presented by Todd & Cue Ltd

Preventing Workplace Violence

© 2008, 2012 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved

• Fast facts: the prevalence of workplace violence

• Your right to a safe workplace• The warning signs of trouble and

immediate signs of danger• What to do in case of an incident or an

emergency• Post-incident analysis

Agenda

Facts About Workplace Violence

• There were over 643,000 incidents of work related violence estimated in England and Wales in 2011-12.

• An estimated 41 per cent of all people assaulted or threatened twice or more.

• Around 1.4 per cent of working adults were victims of workplace violence.

No workplace is immune to workplace violence!

*Statistics via British Crime Survey (BCS) and Riddor data (2011/12)

You have a right to a safe workplace, free from recognised hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that employers must take precautions to identify, minimise and prevent the risks of workplace violence.

Your Employer’s Responsibility

Preventing an Incident

• If you work with high-risk clients or those that are prone to violence, have a plan in place and take extra precautions when those individuals are on-site

• Know the warning signs of violent behaviour

• Always report:– Verbal or physical harassment– Verbal or physical threats– Assaults or other violence– Any behaviour that causes you to feel unsafe

Your safety is the primary concern!

Warning Signs of Violent Behaviour

Take note of customers or co-workers whose:

• Behaviour patterns change rapidly

• Behaviour changes disrupt the work environment

• Signs of stress are more elevated than normal

Warning Signs of Violent Behaviour

• Changes in attitude• Excessive absences or

lateness, tardiness• Changes in work habits• Inability to concentrate• Lack of performance• Increased personal stress• A fascination with weapons

or violence• Sudden changes in energy• History of violence

• Increased use of drugs or alcohol

• Inability to take responsibility for their actions

• Making inappropriate statements

• Social isolation• Complaints of unfair

treatment• Overreacting to criticism• Poor hygiene

Keep in mind…

• These warning signs don’t always lead to violence.

• Warning signs could also be just normal changes in mood. However, drastic personality changes, or changes in situation, may bring out violent tendencies.

• Use your best judgement before reporting issues to a supervisor.

Nonverbal Cues of Potential Violence

• Personal space violations

• Loud talking or yelling

• Shallow, rapid breathing

• Abusive language

• Avoidance of eye contact

• Changes in voice or tone

• Profuse sweating

• Repetitive motions, such as pacing

• Clenched jaw or fists

• Trembling or shaking

• Glaring, scowling or sneering

In Case of an Incident

• Call 9-9-9 immediately, if you can• Remain as calm as possible; do not scream or

panic• Look the person directly in the eye and talk to

them to gain time and calm them down• Do not provoke or argue with the potential

assailant• Do not try to disarm the assailant• Report all incidents, even minor ones, to security

and management as soon as possible

During an Emergency

• Ensure your personal safety before helping others• When you are safe, alert the proper authorities

Post-Incident Analysis

If an incident occurs, learn from it:

– Were there warning signs that may have been missed?

– How did the individual enter the facility? Were they granted unauthorised access?

– Were authorities alerted promptly, and were customers and employees kept safe in the interim?

– Did employees follow the emergency action plan? Did the plan work, as intended, to keep everyone safe?

– What can be done, moving forward, to better discourage violence in our workplace?

Use Lessons Learned to Prevent Violence from Happening Again!

Thank You

This presentation was created for by the safety professionals at Todd & Cue Ltd