03/ 04/ 2005
by Sheila Arbury
Since crime does not take a vacation, relax on the weekends or shut down at 5 p.m., small businesses should be aware of the risk of robbery coupled with criminal assaults on their employees and should have an established workplace violence-prevention plan. Small-business owners should train their employees in measures to prevent these crimes and to protect their safety.
Young workers, who typically have less work experience than older employees, particularly need training on prevention of workplace violence.
In 2003, the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced that there were 631 workplace homicides, an increase from 609 in 2002. The leading cause of these deaths was violence associated with robbery. Of the 631 homicide victims, 73 were workers 18-24 years old – another increase from 2002. The numbers reveal the types of businesses where these young workers are killed as well. In 1998-2002 when there were 306 young homicide victims in the workplace, 297 occurred in three areas – retail trade, food stores and dining establishments.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has issued guidelines for preventing workplace violence in late-night retail establishments. These guidelines are useful not only for late-night retail, but also for other types of small businesses. The guidelines and the information provided here are advisory in nature and intended to help you establish effective workplace violence-prevention programs adapted to your workplace.
As an employer, your first consideration should be to apply preventive measures in your workplace. These preventive measures include security equipment, proper staffing and training for emergency situations.
Security equipment decreases or removes the hazard from the workplace or creates a barrier between the worker and the hazard. Examples are alarm systems, metal detectors, closed-circuit video recording, limited access, bright lighting inside and outside, and windows that provide clear views of the business' interior.
Proper staffing facilitates the creation of procedures and practices that can help prevent violent incidents. Make sure you have adequate staffing, training, security officers, hours of operation and cash-handling policies.
Your second consideration is to develop an emergency plan of action. Ensure that employees know emergency phone numbers and other necessary information. Discuss emergency procedures: Is there a panic button? Is there a height tape at the door to assist description of fleeing criminals? Do employees have distinct tasks during an emergency incident? Practice emergency response to several different events. Employees should understand that thorough preparation can prevent violence or reduce its effect. Your emergency plan should be readily available to your employees.
Your third consideration is employee training on workplace violence. This training plan should contain at a minimum the following elements:
- Description and/or demonstration of security equipment and other relevant workplace tools.
- Discussion and practice of your emergency plan.
- Instruction in behavior that will increase an employee’s chance of staying safe when confronting possible violence.
Young workers often work in service jobs that require contact with the public and exchange of money – both risk factors for workplace violence. Often they are new employees and uncertain how to behave at work. They may never consider that armed robbery could occur in their workplace. As their employer, you should help them think through how they would respond if this happened. Instruct them to protect themselves; tell them:
- Stay calm.
- Don't stare at the perpetrator; it makes him nervous.
- Speak before moving – explain what you’re doing, for example, “I am going to move to the counter now.”
- Don’t move suddenly.
- Don’t argue with the perpetrator.
- Don’t go with the perpetrator. Tell him, “I’ll give you the money, but I have to stay here.”
- Follow emergency procedures as practiced.
Protecting young workers and preventing workplace violence are outreach and training emphasis areas for OSHA, and the agency has developed Web site resources for both topics. The Teen Worker Web page contains resources directed specifically at teens, parents, teachers and employers. The Workplace Violence Safety and Health Topic Page presents information about workplace violence from OSHA, the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and from other organizations. The document about late-night retail establishments mentioned in this article – Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments – is available on the Publications page of the OSHA Web site.
Act to prevent workplace violence in your business. Do your part as an employer to provide a safe environment for your employees.
Sheila Arbury is a registered nurse and a health scientist in OSHA’s Office of Occupational Health Nursing.
OSHA and NFIB recently formed an alliance to enhance safety and health throughout the nation's small and independent businesses. As part of this alliance, they will work together to develop and disseminate information through print and electronic media, including electronic assistance tools, publications, safety newsletters and links from OSHA's and NFIB's Web sites.
