How to stop workplace violence, before it starts

As a society, we tend to be reactionary. You can confirm this by watching any news broadcast. Rarely are we told a story about a violent act that was prevented due to proper planning and anticipation of the event. The media works to entertain us and stories of violence feed our need for this sensationalistic broadcasting. This type of story may not affect us at all, because it is a "story" that is being reported. There is a physical disconnect between us and the victim. That's entertainment!

Because it is in our nature, very few of us plan for the worst. When we do see something that scares us, we consider making changes that may make us safer. A prime example of this phenomena are the attacks of September 11, 2001. Prior to that day, many of us felt untouchable. Wars were something that were fought elsewhere, amongst other people. Since then, we have become a nation of excessive security measures as they relate to mass transit, government installations, no-fly zones, and immigration. Sadly, I have seen little change in how we conduct ourselves in our daily lives, including the workplace.

Workplace violence (homicide) is the second leading cause of death in the workplace, followed closely by motor vehicle crashes. While violence makes for good television, what are we doing to control it? The answer is that most companies are doing nothing...until something happens to them.

Most businesses have Human Resource Managers, Safety Managers, a Safety Committee, or access to a Risk Manager. Your first steps in making your workplace a safe place is to assess your hazards. Sound familiar? It should; you have been practicing this for years, and will now apply it in regards to controlling violence in the workplace.

Start with the physical construction of your building:

1. Do you have multiple entry points?
2. Are these points secured/monitored?
3. Are parking lots properly lighted?
4. Do you have security personnel or a reception area?
5. Are internal doors locked or accessible only with keys/pass codes?
6. Do you control visitors? Can they move about freely?

Staffing:

1. Do you perform background checks on your prospective employees?
2. Do you conduct pre-placement drug and alcohol testing on your applicants?

Employee Behavior:

1. Do you have a zero tolerance policy in effect for violent or aggressive behavior? Do you enforce it?
2. Are your Supervisors, Managers, and Team Leaders, visible?
3. Do you conduct regular performance reviews? Do you address behavior issues ?

Make proactive changes to your workplace to safeguard your employees. It is far easier to prevent these issues than to deal with the aftermath.