1) Workplace violence is a serious issue, costing over $121 billion annually in the US. Homicides are the second leading cause of death for women at work. 2) There are four types of workplace violence: outside threats, clients/customers, co-workers, and related parties like family members. 3) Early warning signs of potential violence include changes in behavior like increased paranoia, aggression, and threats. Employees should report any warning signs to supervisors.

1. Workplace Violence Training
PowerPoint by Jeffery Martin

2. Statistics
 Workplace homicides and other violent acts are the
second leading cause of death for women at work
 For the first 10 years of the 21st century, an average of
558 work-related homicides occurred annually in the U.S.
 Workplace suicides rose to an all-time high of 270
incidents in 2010.
 Estimated more than half million incidents reported each
year
 Workplace violence costs an estimated $121 billion a year
nationwide
 Non-fatal assaults result in more than 876,000 lost
workdays and $16 million in lost wages
 Subsequent costs could include lost productivity,
counseling, contract/sales losses, cleaning and
refurbishing, increased insurance costs,
lawsuits/settlements, and more.

3. Types Of Workplace Violence
 Type 1
 Outside threats from people that have no connection
with the workplace, such as robbery.
 Type 2
 Clients / Customers
 Type 3
 Co-workers
 Type 4
 Related parties, such as family members and spouses.

4. Warning Signs
 Oftentimes, after a workplace violence incident,
interviewed personnel will say that they noticed that
the individual had been acting strangely prior to the
incident, but did not report it.
 The chances of predicting, and preventing, workplace
violence significantly increase when co-workers, and
management personnel, learn to recognize and report
early warning signs.
 Early reporting, and preventative action, can help
diffuse the situation before an act of violence occurs.

5. Some early warning signs
include…
 History of depression, substance abuse, or other mental
health problems.
 Increased paranoia.
 Low self-esteem.
 Comments that show empathy for those that have
committed acts of violence.
 Increased domestic problems in the workplace.
 Increased talk of problems at home.
 Increased, and unsolicited, talks of violent acts, firearms,
bombs, or other weapons.
 Suicidal comments.
 Direct or indirect threats.
 Aggressive, harassing, and/or bullying behavior.

6. There are three levels of early
warning signs.

7. Level 1 - Intimidation
At this level, the individual begins to show
intimidating behavior.
 Individual shows a lack of respect towards others,
 Becomes uncooperative, and/or
 Becomes verbally abusive.

8. Employee Response to Level 1
Warning Signs
Employees observing an individual showing Level 1
warning signs should document the person’s
actions, and report them to their supervisor.
 If the person showing warning signs is the
immediate supervisor of the employee making the
report, the employee should report the incident to
the next level of supervision.

9. Supervisor response to Level 1
warning signs
If the individual showing Level 1 warning signs is
not an employee, a supervisor is still the
appropriate person to make the first response to
the person’s actions.
This can make the individual feel that he/she is
being taken seriously, and may help to diffuse the
situation.
If the individual is an employee, the supervisor
should discuss the incident with the individual, and
attempt to address the employees concern’s, as
well as voicing their own.

10. where an individual is beginning to
become uncooperative, or verbally
abusive, is using “I” statements;
Such as…
“I would like to work with you on
this.”
“I would like for you to stop yelling.”
“I don’t like it when you get too close
to me.”

11. Level 2 - Escalation
At this level, the individual begins to escalate the
situation.
 He or she may become argumentative.
 They may make comments about wanting to hurt
someone.
 They may begin to commit acts of revenge, such
as stealing or sabotaging equipment.
 They may begin to stalk or harass the person, or
persons, that are the object of their anger.

12. Employee Response to Level 2
Warning Signs
Employees observing an individual showing Level 2
warning signs should remove themselves, and
others from the area (if necessary), document the
behavior, and immediately report it to their
Supervisor, the Security Department, and/or the
Human Resources Department.
 If the person showing warning signs is the
immediate supervisor of the employee making the
report, the employee should report the incident to
the next level of supervision.

13. Supervisor Response to Level 2
Warning Signs
If the individual showing Level 2 warning signs is not an
employee, and it is possible, Supervisors should remove
themselves, and their employees, from the area, and allow
Security and/or local Law Enforcement to access the
situation and take necessary action.
If the individual is an employee, Supervisors should remain
calm, avoid an audience, and try to ask questions about the
individual’s complaints; such as,
“What can I do to help you?’
“What do you think you will be able to accomplish by
becoming violent?”
“Have you considered some of the non-violent ways that we

14. If the individual begins to show
further signs of aggression, and
continues to escalate the situation,
regardless of whether the person is
an employee or not, all personnel
should be removed from the area, if
possible, and Security and/or local
Law Enforcement should be notified.

15. Level 3 – Further Escalation
At this level, the individual shows signs of intense
anger. Usually this results in some form of
emergency response.
 The person may show extreme signs of anger,
such as yelling cursing, throwing items,
threatening people, or jumping up and down
angrily.
 Arguments may become physical fights, or
assaults.
 The individual may threaten to commit suicide.
 He or she may destroy property.
 The individual may display a weapon, or threaten

16. Employee Response to Level 3
Warning Signs
Employees observing an individual displaying Level
3 warning signs should immediately leave the area,
and move to a secure location. Once they are in a
safe area, employees should notify Security and/or
local Law Enforcement, and their Supervisor.

17. Supervisor Response to Level 3
Warning Signs
After being advised of an employee displaying
Level 3 warning signs, such as acts of violence,
Supervisors should intervene quickly to investigate
and take appropriate action, with assistance from
the Human Resources Department, and/or the
Security Department.
If the individual is not an employee, Supervisors
should insure that their employees, along with
themselves, are in a safe and secure area, and
notify Security and/or local Law Enforcement.

18. What is an Active Shooter?
An Active Shooter is an individual actively engaged
in killing, or attempting to kill, people in a confined
and populated area.
In most cases, active shooters use firearms, and
there is no pattern or method to their selection of
victims.

19. Response To an Active Shooter
Event

20. RUN
 If possible, evacuate the
area immediately.
 Leave all belongings
behind.
 DO NOT stay behind to
convince others to leave
the area.
 Keep you hands open and
raised, so that Law
Enforcement and/or
Security do not confuse
you with the shooter.

21. HIDE
 Hide in areas, where
the shooter is unable to
see you.
 If possible, secure
yourself in a room,
barricade the doors,
turn off the lights, and
hide away from
windows and doors.
 If possible conceal
yourself behind objects
that provide protection
from gunfire, such as
brick walls, or concrete
pillars.

22. FIGHT
As a last resort, if you are
unable to escape, and
your life is in immediate
danger.
 Fight for your life.
 Act with physical
aggression, and commit
yourself to the fight.
 Attempt to incapacitate
the shooter, and DO
NOT STOP until the
shooter is no longer
able to harm you.

23. Information to give to 911, Law
Enforcement, and Security Officers
 Number of shooters, and their location.
 Type of weapons used.
 Description of shooters.
 Number and location of victims.
 Number and location of potential victims.

24. When Law Enforcement/Security
Arrives
 Law Enforcement, and Security Officers, have
been trained to respond to active shooter events.
 Officers WILL NOT stop to help evacuate, or to
render aid to the wounded.
 The Officers’ priority is to find, and stop, the
shooter.

25. What to do When Law
Enforcement/Security Arrives
 Stay calm, and follow
Officers’ orders.
 Keep your hands up,
and open.
 DO NOT attempt to
hold onto the Officers
for safety.
 DO NOT attempt to
stop the Officers for
directions.
 DO NOT make any
quick movements
towards Officers.

26. END