Occupational Violence

Occupational violence is the attempted or actual exercise by a person of any force so as to cause injury to a worker including any threatening statement or behaviour which gives a worker reasonable cause to believe he or she is at risk.

Following factors increase a worker's risk for workplace violence:

1) Contact with public

2) Delivery of passengers, goods or services.

3) Having a mobile workplace such as taxicab or police cruiser

4) Working with an unstable person in health care, social services or criminal justice settings.

5) Working alone or in small numbers

6) Working late at night or during early hours.

7) Working in high - crime violence

8) Guarding expensive goods

9) Working where alcohol is served.

Violent incidents in the workplace ordinarily follow some sort of "trigger" that pushes an already vulnerable person to take drastic action. Be wary of employees who start to behave in ways listed below:

1) They say they've been treated unfairly.

2) They say they're being forced to wait for something( a promotion, raise etc)

3) They show signs of mental instability.

4) They begin to isolate themselves, are thought as a loner

5) They have recently been disciplined for something.

Most employees with grievance don't become violent.

The following characteristics are the most common in those who commit workplace violence:

> History of violent behaviour . This increases any involvement with the criminal justice system.

> Upset with only having low-level tasks to do

> No job security

> Problems growing up, including bad grades in school, abusive parents etc.

> Substance abuse, including taking heavy medication ( drugs ,alcohol)

Violence has often occurred at meetings between managers and employees, especially if the employee is unhappy with the meeting. If you schedule a meeting with and employee and you feel that the employee may become violent, you may want to take these steps:

> Don't let the employee know that a meeting is scheduled - take them by surprise so that they don't have time to prepare.

> Have someone else present.

> When employees are being evaluated, make sure that good things are being said about them as well.

> Never attack an employee- this includes insults and yelling at them.

> Always remain calm when you talk

> Make sure that you have good distance between yourself and the employee

> Make sure that security can easily be reached

> Stay close to the door incase you choose to quickly leave.