Workplace violence is a grave issue that must be addressed by both employers and employees alike.
Under the General Duty Clause of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, employers are required to create a workplace free from recognized hazards, including violence.Visit this site for more information on this law. One way to do this is to train employees on these dangers and how best to react. Below, we’ll take a look at some of the benefits of these training courses.
Save Your Life
Workplace violence is an all-too-real danger that can impact businesses, employees, clients and customers alike. It may include threats, verbal abuse and physical assaults by coworkers, clients or trusted outsiders; no matter who it comes from – the consequences can be devastating.
Although no single profile can accurately predict who may become violent, experts have identified behaviors and a pattern that could indicate trouble. By teaching employees these signs and teaching them how to recognize them, workplace violence can be prevented before it starts.
A common workplace practice is the “See Something, Say Something” rule, which encourages employees to report any suspicious behavior or changes in a person’s demeanor that could indicate danger. Unfortunately, many people fail to make this connection between what they witness or hear and potential incidents because they believe it’s unimportant, that their boss won’t notice, or it doesn’t affect them directly.
Having a plan that addresses workplace violence in the event of an incident is essential for keeping everyone safe – including yourself. Employees should become familiar with various scenarios like active shooter incidents and hostage taking so they can prepare themselves for any worst-case scenario that may occur.
One of the most efficient methods for training employees about how to recognize and respond to behavior that may lead to violence is through a course that incorporates hands-on activities and interactive exercises. These exercises guarantee learning is retained and applied in real-life situations.
Save Others’ Lives
A workplace violence incident can have a devastating impact on a business, leaving employees and customers feeling hurt and unsafe. It could lead to increased Workers’ Compensation claims, damaged morale, strained employee-employer relationships, as well as other negative repercussions.
Media attention often focuses on high-profile incidents, yet there are thousands of stories that go unreported every year. These include incidents ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults.
Workplace violence is a serious public health hazard that requires the attention of employers, employees and safety/health professionals. It can result in physical and emotional injuries, property damage and in some cases even death.
Create a Safe Environment
Although many factors can contribute to workplace violence, one of the most influential is environment. To prevent it, create a secure and safe environment for all employees by taking a few simple steps.
Employees who are aware of potential hazards and trained to report troubling behavior are more likely to act on it, raising a red flag that could save lives. That is why workplace violence training active shooter courses are necessary in today’s environment. Furthermore, they will be better prepared in crisis situations to de-escalate tensions and mitigate harm.
In addition to recognizing behaviors that might indicate violence, workplace violence training should provide guidance on how to approach managers and other supervisors with concerns. Managers often serve as the initial point of contact when someone exhibits behaviors which could indicate an aggressive tendency.
Training programs should challenge participants to imagine the worst-case scenario and devise a plan for how they would react in such an event. This mindset is known as “survival mindset.”
Employers must implement strategies to reduce these incidents, in conjunction with other efforts to safeguard people from injury or death at work. This includes creating a safety culture that fosters an encouraging atmosphere at work, training employees in safety and security procedures, as well as holding regular health and safety meetings to address hazards and risks.
Manager-Specific Training
In general, workplace violence training encourages individuals to bring any concerns to their managers for review and resolution. This is essential since many will approach their managers first before approaching HR or Security with any issues.
Managers must be mindful of their duty to monitor and safeguard the safety of both their workers and the broader community. To do this, employers can implement policies and procedures in the workplace which encourage people to report any potential threats including, dating violence and sexual harassment. You can click the link: https://www.eeoc.gov/sexual-harassment for more information about sexual harassment.
Employees should recognize that there is no typical violent offender and incidents can arise from any combination of factors, from mental or emotional state to the workplace environment itself. Furthermore, they should learn how to recognize warning signs early on so as not to become victims themselves of workplace violence.
