Workplace Violence
 
Canada is ranked 4th in the world for aggressive workplaces according to a study by Statistics Canada.  In the United States the 4th leading cause of death in the workplace is homicide.  Violence in our workplaces is a risk that needs to be properly accessed, monitored and prevented.  You can not have a safe and healthy workplace that includes violence.

When we think of workplace violence most of us think of a physical altercation between an employee and someone outside the company.  It is true that this would be considered workplace violence but there is so much more to the issue than physical actions and external aggressors.  Non-physical incidents of workplace violence by internal aggressors occur regularly.

Physical violence is usually preceded by some form of verbal aggression which escalates to a physical action.  Providing training and having procedures in place to address incidents of verbal aggression will help to prevent workplace violence.

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How to Reduce Employer Liability

Risk Assessments

• Assess your workplace for possible risks of violence
• A risk assessment should be customized for the specific workplace
• Consider lighting, isolation, barriers, environment, etc.
• Evaluate results
• Establish resolutions to manage the identified risks

Policies & Procedures

1. Using the assessment, policies should be customized to the workplace
2. Include a statement on the companies’ position regarding workplace violence
3. Procedures need to be specific and customized for each workplace
4. Procedures should include details for all levels of worker from the beginning of a violent incident through to completion of the investigation
   

Training and Education

1. An essential part of any prevention strategy
2. Make sure your workers understand what you are trying to prevent
3. Ensure your workers, supervisors and managers understand their responsibility for prevention
4. See Workplace Violence Prevention Workshop on back page

Investigation & Reporting Systems

1. Customize a reporting system for incidents of workplace violence
2. Set up the frame work for a consistent, impartial and thorough investigative process

Workplace Violence Prevention Course Summary

The “Workplace Violence Prevention” program developed by Firm Foundations is designed to be interactive and encourage open discussion around the subject.  
Participants will discover what workplace violence is, including what behaviours constitute violence.  Workplace violence is so complex we have attempted to divide it into the following five areas, please note there is a lot of overlap in each area:

1. Threatening Behaviour
2. Verbal or Written Threats
3. Harassment(including workplace bullying)
4. Verbal Abuse
5. Physical Abuse/Attacks

            We will learn what is meant by “reasonably ought to have known” and how to establish our own “line”.  We will work on how to respond to workplace violence and develop our own personal response to use should we find ourselves in that position.  We will review how to report violence as well as the roles and responsibilities we have in preventing workplace violence.
            Each session will conclude with a quiz which will test for understanding of the course material.  This quiz will be review in class to ensure all participants have full understanding before course completion.