1. Violence in the
Workplace!

2. Course Objectives
• To help members of management
and supervisors identify employees
who present a risk of violence
• To teach management to connect the
dots so managers can interrupt the
process that leads to violence

3. 1. Select from below which are types of violence:
a) Physical
b) Verbal
c) Psychological
d) All of the above
e) None of the above
2. What are reportable incidents?
a) Only serious ones
b) Any acts or threats
c) Only those by non-supervisors
Pre-Test

4. Pre-Test Continued
3. To help prevent acts of violence, it is a good idea
to always be aware of your surroundings. (True
or False)
4. Employee ______________ in an agency’s
Violence in the Workplace Program is imperative.

5. Did You Know?
• Homicide is 4th
leading cause of fatal
occupational injury in the US.
• Less than half of all threats are
reported annually.
• Assaults at work cost 500,000
employees 1,175,100 lost work days each
year

6. Definitions
• Violence: Any verbal, physical or
psychological threat of assault on an
individual that has the intention or results
in physical and/or psychological damage
• Workplace: Any local where the
employee is, due to job requirements

7. Most Common Occurences
• Insubordination
• Verbal
intimidation
• Threats
• Harassment
• Vandalism
• Arson
• Stalking
• Fist Fights

8. Sources
• By strangers or vendors
• By co-workers
• By acquaintances
• By relatives

9. Types of Incidences
• Homicides:
• Leading cause of job-related deaths for
women,
• Second leading cause for men
• Non-fatal assaults:
• Over two million people have been
assaulted at work since 1987

10. Background Information
• Types of violence
• Physical
• Verbal
• Psychological

11. Effects
• Physical
• Psychological/emotional damage
• Interruption in business
• Higher Workers’ comp costs
• Loss of productive workers
• Legal liability
• Psychological/emotional damage
• Interruption in business

12. Risk Factors
• Isolated work areas
• Inadequately lighted parking lots
• High-risk environments
• Solo or night work
• No way to communicate
• Financial responsibilities (making deposits)

13. Risk Factors cont’d
• Nature of job or responsibility
• Unrestricted movement in the workplace
• Prevalence of handguns and weapons
among people, family or guns
• Number of acute and chronically ill mental
patients being released without follow-up
• Drug abuse

14. Risk Indicators
• Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm
including vague and overt threats
• Obscene phone calls
• Intimidating presence
• Harassment of any nature

15. Risk Indicators CON’T
• Disorderly conduct such as:
• Shouting
• Pushing or throwing objects
• Punching walls and slamming doors
• Fascination with:
• Guns or other weapons demonstrated by
discussions or bringing weapons to work

17. Warning Signs
• Usually follow a trigger such as:
• Statements of unfair treatment
• Forced to wait for (promotion, raise,
etc.)
• Show signs of mental instability
• Start to isolate themselves (loner)
• Have recently been disciplined

18. Common Traits
• History of violent behavior (includes arrests,
police contact)
• Middle-aged white male
• Upset with having only low-level tasks
• Bitter and unhappy (at work or home)
• No job security
• Problems growing up
• Substance abuse

19. Personality Traits
• Resists change
• Feelings of being
picked on
• Easily frustrated
• Challenges authority
• Low self-esteem
• Low productivity
• Low impulse control
• Lacks empathy
• Social withdrawal
• Feelings of rejection

20. • Feelings of rejection
• Resists change
• Feelings of being picked on
• Easily frustrated
• Challenges authority
Personality Traits con’t

21. What to Look For…
• Obsessive behavior
• Increased absenteeism
• Chemical dependency
• Verbal threats or threatening actions
• History of discipline problems

22. What Else to Look For
• Depression & isolation
• Defensiveness
• Emotional outbursts
• Interests in weapons
• Self-destructive behavior
• Affiliation with gangs

24. DO:
• Secure your workplace daily
• Move your vehicle if working late
• Escort all visitors/vendors in the
workplace
Safety Tips

25. Safety Tips
DO:
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Know where your exits are
• Implement a “buddy system”
• Leave with keys in hand
• Consider workplace layouts

26. Safety Tips
DO:
• Maintain the ability to
communicate
• Report all incidents
• Inform management of
restraining orders

27. 1.Do not get physical
2.Do not over-react
3.Do not take the challenge
4.Be a good listener
5.Know what is really being said
Things to Remember!

28. More Things to Remember
6. Give them space
7. Watch what you say non-verbally
8. Reference self-interest
9. Speak of consequences not threats

30. You Play a
Role!!!
• Recognize warning signs
• Stay in control
• Collect information
• Report all incidents

31. Protect Yourself
• Don’t let the employee know a meeting is
scheduled
• Have someone else with you
• Include positives with negatives during
evaluations
• Never attack an employee (insults,
yelling)

32. Protect Yourself
• ALWAYS remain calm when you talk
• Keep a good distance between yourself
and the employee
• Make sure that security can be easily
reached
• Stay close to the door

33. Myth vs. Reality
• People just snap
• Violence and threats are irrational
• Current and former co-workers pose the
greatest risk of workplace violence
• Research studies have established
profiles of perpetrators of violence at work

34. Myth vs. RealityCON’T
• Mental illness is the most significant risk
factor for violence
• The main issue in threat assessment is on
whether an actual threat has been made
• “It will never happen to us” vs. “It will
definitely happen to us”
• These situations are best handled by a
single person

35. Post Test Questions
1. Name personality traits to look for as
early warning signs of possible violent
behavior.
2. The workplace is any location the
employee is located due to requirements
for his/her job assignment. (True or
False)

36. Post Test Questions
3. Veiled, conditional and direct are the three
types of _____________.
4. List some effects of threats of violence in the
workplace.
5. You are at more at risk when workplace
security procedures are bi-passed? (True or
False)

37. Post Test Questions
6. Select sources of violence in the
workplace:
a) Strangers
b) Co-workers
c) Clients/students
d) Personal Relations
e) All of the above
f) None of the above

38. Post Test Questions
7. ___________ all incidents is the key to
prevention of violence in the workplace.
8. Lack of program implementation and
employee training can increase the
possibility of violence in the workplace.
(True or False)

39. Questions – More Info
If you have questions or stories you would like to share please
contact me at: john.toay@lpmriskmanagement.com
John.toay@lpmriskmangement.com or 1-800-531-2265
Website info: http://LPMRiskManagement.com
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LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/johntoay