Upper management of any organization need to promote a clear anti-violence corporate policy by addressing the issue in a formal written policy that must be distributed and discussed with all employees. Risk management and safety departments are advised to train all employees in the warning signs of aggressive or violent behavior, train management in threat assessment and de-escalation techniques, review and verify insurance coverage, exclusions and so on. It is important to note, the white paper states that legally, employers may be liable for failing to provide adequate on-site safety and security measures after they have been notified of a potential danger. ASSE and RIMS members noted the urgency of equipping employers with the knowledge and resources needed to prevent violent workplace occurrences following a major increase in the number of deadly incidents in the workplace over the past few years.
Workplace violence causes far more than a financial toll.
Workplace violence is more than homicide, the white paper states, and harassment is the leading form of on the job workplace violence with 16 million workers being harassed each year. Other violent acts can include stalking, threats, inappropriate communication, trespassing, telephone and e-mail harassment, property defacing, and invasion of privacy and confining or restraining victims. ASSE is the oldest and largest society of safety professionals in the world. Founded in 1911, ASSE represents 32,000 safety professionals including Certified Safety Professionals, Certified Industrial Hygienists, Professional Engineers, Ergonomists, Academicians, Fire Protection Engineers, System Safety Experts, Health Professionals, and a wide collection of other disciplines, skills, and backgrounds. They assist in developing national and international safety standards and national regulations based on their experience and knowledge.