Workplace violence prevention: 6 steps to protect your workers

What is workplace violence defined as?

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workplace violence is defined as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening behavior at the workplace. This workplace violence definition from OSHA is wide-ranging concerning the different forms that workplace abuse can take. 

The effects of workplace violence and abuse can take many physical and psychological forms that can last from a few hours to a lifetime. These can range from feeling unsafe at work and increased stress to lifelong injuries and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). So it is no surprise that one in seven employees feel unsafe at work and 48% of HR professionals report violence in the workplace at some point.

High-risk industries and occupations for workplace violence

The occurrence of workplace violence can happen in a variety of situations, such as robberies, arguments or a disgruntled former employee. In 2022, fatal injuries from workplace violence rose by 11.6%, with approximately 62% of these fatalities being homicides, most of which involved a dangerous weapon.

These types of incidents and other forms of workplace violence are more likely to happen in certain industries and occupations for a variety of reasons. For example, occupations involving the exchange of money, working with volatile people and working alone or in an isolated environment. The time of day can also play a huge part, with late-night work linked to a higher chance of workplace abuse.

Therefore, retail workers, healthcare professionals, law enforcement personnel and taxi drivers are just a few examples of occupations that may encounter verbal and physical violence due to the factors mentioned above.

Workplace violence examples

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health states that violence in the workplace falls into four categories; criminal intent, customer/​client, worker-on-worker and personal relationship. Below are workplace violence examples by category so your business can better recognize, improve and prevent workplace violence.

Criminal intent

• Robberies (e.g. physical violence in a retail shipment robbery)

• Physical and verbal workplace abuse (e.g. nightclub security guard)

• Kidnapping (e.g. late-night convenience store)

• Trespassing (e.g. stadium)

Customer/​client

• Healthcare staff verbal abuse (e.g. disgruntled relative of patient)

• Physically violent children (e.g. teaching or young offenders institute)

• Customer service verbal abuse (e.g. hospitality)

• Inmate vs. officer violence (e.g. corrections)

Worker-on-worker

• Violent ex-employee seeking revenge for being dismissed

• A disgruntled employee upset at management

• Staff bullying

Personal relationship

• Domestic abuse at the workplace

In addition to the above-listed workplace violence examples, cyberbullying is a form of workplace abuse that occurs online or through the use of electronic devices. This form of workplace violence can be initiated by an individual towards a co-worker, a customer service representative or an ex-partner at their workplace. Cyberbullying behavior can include publicly publishing inappropriate pictures, sending threatening messages or revealing personal information online.

How to develop a workplace violence prevention plan

A workplace violence prevention plan, or workplace violence response plan, is a strategy designed to identify, mitigate and address potential risk or workplace violence incidents. The aim is to create a safe and secure work environment for employees. 

The plan should include proactive physical security measures, risk assessments, workplace violence training and post-incident support. As with any plan, the key to its success is reviewing and refining the strategy regularly to ensure it is up to date and accounts for new threats. But what steps should an employer take to develop a workplace violence response plan?

Step 1: Perform risk assessments

One key tip for preventing workplace violence is to carry out risk assessments. This includes identifying the potential threats to your workplace and assessing the likelihood of an incident occurring. 

The workplace security risk assessment includes reviewing existing incident records, procedures, security analysis, and operations for the different jobs in the business. This will expose existing vulnerabilities, identify areas for improvement and help implement actions that will reduce workplace violence.

As it’s a crucial first step in developing an effective workplace violence prevention plan, it is recommended that you engage employees in the risk assessment process to gather their observations and valuable insights into risks from their experience.

Step 2: Create a workplace violence policy

The next step is to establish a zero-tolerance workplace violence policy or update an existing one. This policy should provide a clear definition of workplace violence in all its forms, including guidance and potential solutions if a workplace violence incident occurs and procedures for reporting incidents. The consequences and repercussions of workplace violence should also be clearly stated.

This policy must be shared with all staff and accessible to them at all times. All staff must understand the policy and its information. It is recommended that managers communicate this with their teams and respond to any questions that arise from those discussions. The goal of this policy is to create a safer environment with a workplace culture that exudes friendly, professional behavior. As with the overall workplace violence prevention plan, the policy should also be reviewed regularly and updated to ensure effectiveness.

Step 3: Facilitate workplace violence training

Workplace violence prevention training plays a crucial role in ensuring that all staff are aware of the potential risks and how to protect themselves and their colleagues through pre-defined procedures.

Training should feature a detailed explanation of the four types of workplace violence, how to identify them and what to do if you should find yourself in such a situation. Employees must also learn anti-bullying strategies, conflict resolution techniques and who to contact for support in the event of a workplace violence incident.

These workplace violence prevention training sessions should be provided periodically and more frequently for those working in high-risk environments, such as healthcare, to help ensure workers receive a refresher and provide information on new workplace violence prevention strategies.

Step 4: Provide workplace violence support services

In the event of workplace violence, employers need to provide affected staff with the support required to help cope and recover from the aftereffects. These aftereffects can be both physical, such as an injury, or mental, such as increased stress and PTSD. 

Therefore, businesses should develop and provide workplace violence support services that enable affected individuals to seek the physical and mental help they need. This can include services such as physical rehabilitation or counseling that can aid in alleviating the impacts of workplace violence and help the individual return to work.

Step 5: Report incidents

Following a workplace violence incident, your employees need to know how to report it. They also need to feel that their claims will be taken seriously and that they can trust the organization to handle the investigation appropriately and provide anonymity if required. 

For this step, you should establish and circulate a reporting process that details how to report an incident, how investigations will be carried out and where to seek support services. Multiple options for incident reporting should be provided, such as an anonymous hotline, to ensure the victim feels confident enough to report an incident.

The reasons behind collecting these incident reports are to reassure staff that their claims will be taken seriously and to provide leadership with findings that can be used to improve aspects of the working environment and help reduce workplace violence.

Step 6: Adopt security technologies

An effective way to prevent workplace violence and a significant part of your workplace violence prevention plan is to adopt and utilize different types of security technologies. This includes access control for visitor management, security cameras for deterrence and capturing events and panic alarm systems. 

Based on your risk assessment in step one, you will have identified areas needing improvement, and an office security system may be the optimal solution to address these issues. 

For example, an effective access control system can help prevent unauthorized individuals from accessing a workplace. AI-powered security camera systems can use video analytics to detect and alert security teams to potential threats, such as a break-in or an office dispute. With these workplace violence solutions, businesses can significantly deter potential threats and provide a sense of security for staff.

Workplace violence prevention regulations

While there is no specific federal OSHA workplace violence standard requiring a workplace violence prevention program, implementing a plan can allow employers to comply with the General Duty Clause for reducing workplace violence. This requires employers to provide a workplace ​“free from recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”

However, certain states have introduced regulations and declarations approved by OSHA regarding workplace violence. The majority of these apply only to the healthcare industry due to the higher risk of workplace abuse. However, some laws are general and extend to most industries. These state laws address specific elements, including:

• Written policies and plans

• Staff training

• Safety Committees

• Reporting workplace violence incidents and record-keeping

The recent introduction of legislation by some states shows the growing importance and need in preventing workplace violence. The following states have implemented specific regulations:

• California: Effective July 1, 2024, Senate Bill 553 (SB 553) requires an employer to implement a workplace violence prevention plan, including incident logs and employee training on reporting procedures.

• Texas: The Workplace Violence Prevention Act mandates that healthcare employers create committees, develop workplace violence prevention plans, implement response procedures and train staff.

• New York: The Retail Worker Safety Act (Senate Bill S8358) requires retailers to evaluate hazards, create violence prevention plans, provide staff training and install panic buttons.

• Hawaii: This state’s instruction provides compliance safety and health officers with general enforcement policies and procedures during inspections when workplace violence is identified as a hazard.

Recently, Congress has introduced legislation directing the Secretary of Labor to issue a workplace safety and health standard for healthcare and social service employers. This and the above state legislative actions follow a noticeable trend towards greater implementation of such regulations. As a result, all employers need to keep up with the changing legal landscape to understand their responsibilities and stay compliant with employee safety.

How to prevent workplace violence with Avigilon

After examining workplace violence and how to prevent it, businesses should research security solutions that can enhance workplace safety and enable them to comply with the latest legislation.

Avigilon, part of Motorola Solutions’ technology ecosystem, is a trusted provider for all your security technology needs. With an extensive range of commercial camera systems and access control solutions for all types of businesses and organizations, combined with powerful management software and integration capabilities, you can rely on Avigilon to provide a workplace security solution that helps prevent violence.

Reduce workplace violence with video security

If you’re considering an on-premise vs cloud security solution, Avigilon has you covered. Their AI-powered video security system can be managed onsite with an on-premise solution or observed remotely in real-time with a cloud-based system. Both options enhance your security team’s situational awareness and enable quick responses to workplace violence.
 

• Enhanced situational awareness: By combining high-resolution imagery and AI-powered video analytics with cameras that offer flexible coverage, operators can take advantage of enhanced situational awareness that can lead to safer outcomes.

• Faster threat detection: In the event of an incident, AI video analytics can detect unusual activity, such as a break-in, or noises that could signal an argument, and alert the security team to a potential threat. This instant detection can lead to faster responses – and the seconds saved can make all the difference to an employee’s safety.

• Expedite investigations: Video security can also support post-incident reporting and investigations. Using Avigilon Unity Video VMS, the operator can analyze the sharp footage captured to see the events that unfolded, and this evidence can help support and expedite investigations into workplace violence.

Reduce workplace violence with access control

Securing a workplace with effective access control systems can help to reduce workplace violence brought on by outside individuals. Avigilon offers both on-premise and cloud-based access control systems so you can find a solution that fits your business’ workplace security needs.
 

• Secure your premises: By installing Avigilon Unity or Alta access control at entry and exit points, employee-only areas and around high-value assets, businesses can improve on-site security while helping to keep employees, customers and visitors safe.

• Complete security solution: With flexible access methods and future-proof technology that can integrate with your existing security systems, Avigilon’s access control solutions can form a vital part of your workplace violence prevention strategy.

• Initiate quick lockdowns: Your security team can remotely manage access events and initiate immediate partial or full lockdowns. This proves incredibly useful to organizations that are prone to workplace violence and have multiple sites, such as retailers, a school district or a hospital.

Conclusion

With the rise in workplace violence and resulting new legislation, businesses must prioritize the safety of employees, visitors, and customers to stay compliant and create a safer environment. Government agencies provide valuable resources, such as workplace violence prevention checklists, to assist organizations.

By implementing a workplace violence prevention plan that includes risk assessment, policy creation, staff training and the use of smart security technologies, you can not only meet existing or new legal requirements but also protect staff, reduce liability claims and become a forward-thinking, people-first organization.