08/ 01/ 2004
by Alvin M. Hattal
It’s not only in the post office. Workplace violence involving employees happens every day throughout the business world. In fact, there are more than 1 million victims of workplace violence every year, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Fortunately, violence can usually be anticipated, and there are proven ways to prevent those costly encounters.
One expert on the subject, Richard Denenberg, co-director of Workplace Solutions, a nonprofit organization that creates violence-prevention programs, says that unfortunately workplace violence tends to focus on employees only.
But according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), employees are only one of the likely causes of workplace violence. Strangers and clients account for 90 percent of all such incidents. And in recent years a fourth cause has emerged: relatives of the employee involved.
Other than focusing on the causes of violent behavior, small businesses need to ask themselves how well they deal with the symptoms of stress and how prepared they are to respond to signs of potential trouble, whatever the cause.
Resolving conflict is the best way to prevent workplace violence. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service conducts courses on dealing with these problems. The goal of the courses is to build a consensus among employees so they can help change a workplace from crisis-prone to crisis-prepared.
How to Protect Yourself
Provide safety education for employees so they know what conduct is unacceptable.
Secure the workplace by installing alarm systems, surveillance equipment and ID badges, when appropriate.
Limit the amount of cash on hand by providing drop safes.
Ask field staff to keep someone informed of their location throughout the day and provide them with cell phones.
Learn to recognize and diffuse violent situations by attending personal safety training.
Source: OSHA
