1. WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
Making employees aware of security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co-workers
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

2. Objective
To ensure that all employees are aware of potential security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co-workers through established policies and procedures.
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

3. Background Annual costs of workplace violence
500,000 employees lose 1,175,100 work days
Lost wages = more than $55 million
When the cost of productivity, legal expenses, property damage, diminished public image, increased security and other factors are included, the cost is measured in billions of $
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

4. Homicides
Leading cause of job-related deaths for women, second leading cause for men
Claimed the lives of 1,071 workers in 1994
Approximately 3 workers died each day under violent circumstances
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

5. Non-fatal assaults
Annually since 1987, just over one million persons were assaulted at work
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

6. What is workplace violence?
Any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the workplace
The workplace may be any location, either permanent or temporary, where an employee performs any work-related duty
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

7. Different types of workplace violence
Striking, pushing, grabbing, or other aggressive acts
Physical assaults
Stabbings
Shootings
Rapes
Armed robbery
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

8. Acts of aggression/risk indicators
Disorderly conduct
shouting, pushing or throwing objects, punching walls, or slamming doors
Fascination with guns or other weapons
Demonstrated by discussions or bringing weapons to workplace
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

9. Acts of aggression/risk indicators
Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm
including both vague and clear threats
Obscene phone calls
Intimidating presence
Harassment of any nature
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

10. Types of incidents
Based upon the relationship between the assailant/worker/workplace, violent incidents can be divided into categories:
Violence by strangers
Violence by co-workers
Violence by personal relationships
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

11. Who’s affected?
Those who work alone, late at night, and are known to handle cash
Persons going into inadequately lighted parking areas
Persons ignoring the potential for attack
Those working in high crime areas
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

12. Why workers are at risk Prevalence of handguns and other weapons
Increasing number of people losing their jobs
Ever increasing abuse of illicit drugs and the need to fund the habit
Overcrowded court dockets and prisons
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

13. Five components of prevention
Management commitment
Employee involvement
Worksite analysis
Hazard prevention and control plan
Training
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

14. Management commitment
Provides the motivating forces to deal effectively with workplace violence
Demonstrated by:
Organizational concern for employee’s physical and emotional safety and health
Equal commitment to employee, public health, and customer safety and health
A system of accountability for involved managers and employees
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

15. Employee involvement
Enables management to express their commitment to safety and health
Should include the following:
Understand and comply with employer’s safety, security and health programs
Participate in suggestion processes for safety, health, and security concerns
Promptly and accurately report violent incidents
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

16. Worksite analysis
Step-by-step common sense look at workplace to find existing or potential hazards
Reviewing specific procedures that contribute to hazards and specific locales where hazards may develop
Threat assessment team or coordinator assesses job site vulnerability and determines appropriate actions
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

17. Hazard prevention & control
Next step:
Design measures, through engineering or administrative and work practices, to prevent or control identified hazards
If violence does occur, post- incidence response can be an important tool in preventing future incidents
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

18. Hazard prevention & control
Engineering controls remove workplace hazards or create a barrier between worker and hazards
Alarm systems, other security devices
Panic buttons for employees in high crime areas
Safe rooms for employees to use during emergencies

19. Hazard prevention & control
Administrative and work practice controls affect the way jobs or tasks are performed
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

20. Hazard prevention & control
Examples of administrative and work practice controls:
State clearly to employees that violence is neither tolerated nor permitted
Establish liaison with local police
Require employees to report all assaults or threats to a supervisor or manager
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

21. Hazard prevention & control
Examples of administrative and work practice controls:
Try to always work in close proximity of co-workers
Arrange for visit to locations in high crime areas during daylight hours
Inform employees to be watchful of their surroundings at all times
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

22. If confronted with assailant
Move slowly, do not startle the assailant
Remain calm and do not confront them or resist
Take a mental note of assailant’s physical appearance
i.e. height, weight, age, sex, race, clothing
Immediately call 911 and inform your supervisor of the incident
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

23. Training
Training ensures that all employees are aware of potential security hazards and how to protect themselves and their co-workers through established policies and procedures
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

24. Training Universal Precautions for Violence:
Violence should be expected but can be avoided or mitigated through preparation
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency

25. REVIEW
Be aware of what areas you are working in that are potentially high crime areas
Who can be affected by workplace violence?
Pay attention to your surroundings
What will you do if confronted by an assailant?
Information provided for UAC members by the Georgia Urban Ag Council and Snellings Walters Insurance Agency