WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PLANNING FOR YOUR OWN DISASTER Funding and Support for this project provided by the State of Washington, Department of Labor and Industries, Safety and Health Investment Projects

OBJECTIVES Accept workplace violence can happen in any setting Identify types of events and warning signs of violence Use de-escalation techniques to diffuse potential violence Train employees on “Run, Hide, Fight” for active shooter response Create a written workplace violence policy and emergency response plan

IT CAN HAPPEN TO YOU

TYPES OF EVENTS Type I incidents involve STRANGERS Type II events are CUSTOMERS or PATIENTS Type III episodes involve current or former EMPLOYEES Type IV situations, DOMESTIC PARTNERS or FAMILY MEMBERS

STRANGER VIOLENCE Most Common Cause of Fatalities from Violence Motive: Robbery or Crime

STRANGER VIOLENCE STRATEGIES Signs stating cash register has minimal cash Clear view of cash register from street Drop safe or limited access safe Silent alarms Adequate outside lighting Control access to worksite Install security cameras Provide security personnel Devise method to alert police/security Address employee isolation factors - not working alone Train workers in prevention

CLIENT VIOLENCE Less Fatalities than other forms - but very common Motive: Frustration Most at Risk Groups: Bus/rail/taxi drivers Social service providers Health care workers Teachers Sales personnel Law enforcement employees

CLIENT VIOLENCE STRATEGIES Limit employee/client isolation Provide Panic Button/Personal Alarm Provide security personnel Devise method to alert police/security Have Pre-planned Escape Routes Eliminate Access to Weapons Train workers in prevention

A.V.A.D.E Workplace Violence Prevention Training

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE Lots of Media Attention Extremely Disruptive to employee and staff Motive: Control

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE STRATEGIES Control worksite access Encourage employees to report harassment, stalking, domestic violence, restraining orders Enforce policies on prevention and how to handle violent confrontations Relocate employee to safe worksite Notify other staff as needed Prohibit weapons

CO-WORKER VIOLENCE Most Media Attention Often the biggest Disaster for a Company - Physically, Emotionally, Financially Motive: Revenge

CO-WORKER VIOLENCE STRATEGIES Develop management policies for disciplinary actions, lay- off’s, etc Prohibit weapons at work Enforce a no-tolerance policy for workplace violence Provide security personnel Encourage employee assistance and counseling and…….

“Be Nice” Hostile Workplaces are often a Company Culture - Not the work of an Individual

“People Don’t Just Snap” “I had a gut feeling he might do something like this….” Social Media posts School Shootings Behavioral Warning Signs Hostile work environment Almost never happens without warning.

WARNING SIGNS Intuition Verbal Abuse/Threats Threatening Behavior Physical Assault

VERBAL ABUSE Abuse is intended to hurt the feeling or humiliate someone “Hostile Work Environment” Bullying Two Edged Sword - Bully may commit violence Bullied may commit violence

THREATENING BEHAVIOR Posturing Angry Movements Exaggerated Movements Showing weapons TAKE THIS VERY SERIOUSLY!

PHYSICAL ASSAULTS ZERO TOLERANCE to VIOLENCE - IT’S NOT FUNNY Often the result of an escalating situation of verbal abuse of threatening behavior Training to handle situation is necessary

REMEMBER: WHAT YOU DO MAKES A DIFFERENCE

THIS IS HAPPENING

OUTCOMES BASED ON RESPONSE “If you sense something, say something.” Trust your gut if you feel you are in an ‘event’ If possible, de-esculate the situation before it becomes an act of violence Awareness + action = Prevention of a Disaster

TRAINING MATTERS

DE-ESCULATE AT THE “ACTION” POINT Use a slow confident calm voice Do not get upset yourself - do not argue look at is as preventing an incident do you want to be right or keep your company safe? Assess your Body Language stay open handed Use Names (individuals and yours) Assess Area and Space stay at least 4’ away Appendix C-3 Appendix C-4

DE-ESCULATE THE “ACTION” POINT Don’t Touch the Upset Person Break Eye Contact at Times Use Attentive Listening - Express Your Intention to Help Do Not make Promises Clarify Communications Ask for Specific Responses Redirect their Thoughts Environment to somewhere safer for you Buy time for your Emergency Plan to Activate

FLASH POINT If de-esculation doesn’t work or the person comes in acting violently Once shots are fired, ‘talking them down’ is not an option Most situations last less than 10 minutes and end with the death of the shooter Employees must be trained to Run, Hide, Fight

RUN, HIDE, FIGHT VIDEO

SURVIVAL MINDSET

STOP A DISASTER Shoe Bomber Paris Train Seattle University Shooting

MAKE A PLAN

OBJECTIVES Accept workplace violence can happen in any setting Identify types of events and warning signs of violence Use de-escalation techniques to diffuse potential violence Train employees on “Run, Hide, Fight” for active shooter response Create a written workplace violence policy and emergency response plan

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM SAMPLE WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PROGRAM APPENDIX A

ALL HAZARDS PLANNING NICASAFETY.COM

CONCLUSION ACCEPT IT CAN HAPPEN BE NICE - BUILD A WORKPLACE VIOLENCE RESISTANCE CULTURE DE-ESCLATE RUN, HIDE, FIGHT PUT ON CALENDAR A SAFETY MEETING ON YOUR COMPANY PLAN

Workplace Violence Prevention Readiness and Response By Stephen J. Romano, M.A.; Micòl E. Levi-Minzi, M.A., M.S.; Eugene A. Rugala; and Vincent B. Van Hasselt, Ph.D. response response Workplace violence: Know the numbers, risk factors and possible warning signs By Greg Botelho, CNN Combating Workplace Violence, Guidelines for Employers and Law Enforcement- The International Association of Chiefs of Police e.pdf e.pdf AVADE Workplace Violence Prevention Training