Back to Basics is a weekly feature that highlights important but possibly overlooked information that any EHS professional should know. This week, we examine how to recognize the warning signs of workplace violence.
Workplace violence has a been a major concern for businesses for years now, but it’s especially topical as some states begin passing legislation requiring workplaces to have violence prevention plans in place. While the settings and requirements vary, one thing that businesses everywhere should do is ensure that workers know how to recognize the warning signs of workplace violence.
Workplace violence among co-workers is one of the most common types, but violent incidents can also be committed by people from outside the workplace, according to the Department of Labor (DOL). This can include domestic violence, bomb threats, and violence by customers.
Often employees ignore warning signs because they think they’re not important, they’ve become desensitized to a co-worker’s behavior, or they feel it’s none of their business. While actual threats are more obvious and should be responded to immediately, employees need to trust their judgment and senses when there isn’t an obvious threat. If a worker gets a “gut feeling” that someone is dangerous, they should take the proper precautions.
Levels of violence and response
The DOL lists three levels of warning signs for violence.
Level 1: Early warning signs
The person is:
- Intimidating or bullying
- Discourteous or disrespectful
- Uncooperative and/or
- Verbally abusive
Response when early warning signs occur at Level 1:
- Observe the behavior in question
- Report concerns to your supervisor to seek help in assessing/responding to the situation. If the offending employee is the reporting employee’s immediate supervisor, the employee should notify the next level of supervision. If the offending person is not an employee, the supervisor of the employee reporting the incident is still the appropriate person to receive and provide initial response.
- Document the observed behavior in question.
- Supervisor should meet with the offending employee to discuss concerns. Follow these procedures:
- Schedule private time and place.
- Coordinate any necessary union participation.
- Get straight to the point.
- Ask the employee for his or her input.
- Ask the employee what should be done about the behavior.
- Ask how you can help.
- Identify the performance and/or conduct problems that are of concern.
- Identify the steps you would like to see to correct the problems.
- Set limits on what is acceptable behavior and performance.
- Establish time frame to make changes and subsequent consequences for failing to correct behavior and/or performance.
- Department’s policies.
Level 2: Escalation of the situation
The person:
- argues with customers, vendors, co-workers, and management
- refuses to obey agency policies and procedures
- sabotages equipment and steals property for revenge
- verbalize wishes to hurt co-workers and/or management
- sends threatening note(s) to co-workers and/or management
- sees self as victimized by management
Response when the situation has escalated to Level 2:
- If warranted, call 911 and other appropriate emergency contacts (such as Federal Protective Service) for that particular facility, particularly if the situation requires immediate medical and/or law enforcement personnel.
- Immediately, contact the supervisor and, if needed, the supervisor will contact other appropriate officials for help in assessing or responding to the situation.
- If necessary, secure your own safety and the safety of others, including contacting people who are in danger.
- Document the observed behavior in question.
- Supervisor should meet with the employee to discuss concerns and, if appropriate, begin or continue progressive discipline. The supervisor should follow these procedures:
- Call for assistance in assessing/responding, if needed.
- Avoid an audience when dealing with the employee.
- Remain calm, speaking slowly, softly, and calmly.
- Ask the employee to sit down; see if he or she is able to follow directions.
- Ask questions relevant to the employee’s complaint: What can you do to try to regain control of yourself? What can I do to help you regain control? What do you hope to gain by committing violence? Why do you believe you need to be violent to achieve that?
- Try to direct the aggressive tendencies into another kind of behavior so the employee sees he or she has choices about how to react.
Level 3: Further escalation—usually resulting in an emergency response
The person displays intense anger resulting in:
- Suicidal threats
- Physical fights
- Destruction of property
- Display of extreme rage, and/or
- Utilization of weapons to harm others
Response when situation is a Level 3 emergency:
Anyone observing violent or threatening behavior that poses an immediate danger to persons or property is expected to:
- Call 911 and other appropriate emergency contacts for that particular facility, particularly if the situation requires immediate medical and/or law enforcement personnel.
- Remain calm and contact your supervisor.
- Secure your personal safety first.
- Leave the area if your safety is at risk.
- Cooperate with law enforcement personnel when they respond to the situation.
Once law enforcement personnel are on the scene, they will assume control of the situation. Witnesses should be prepared to provide a description of the violent or threatening individual, details of what was observed, and the exact location of the incident.
Behavioral and physical signs
According to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, behavioral warning signs include:
- Crying, sulking, outbursts
- Frequent lateness or absenteeism
- Poor work quality, denial, or work performance problems
- Belief that he or she is always correct
- Poor handling of criticism
- Blaming others for errors
- Testing limits
- Use of profanity and/or other inappropriate communication
- Difficulty with concentration and recall
- Social isolation, complaints of unfair treatment
- Hyperfocus on problems without resolving them
Physical warning signs include the following:
- Flushing, pallor, sweating
- Tired appearance
- Clenched muscles (e.g., fists)
- Making violent gestures
- Rapid, shallow breathing
- Scowling, sneering, glaring
- Avoidance of eye contact
- Restless or repetitive movements (e.g., pacing)
- Shaking, trembling
- Vocal changes
- Chanting or speaking loudly
- Invading the personal space of others