Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper

5 February 2001 - The American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) has urged employers to review workplace violence prevention policies, conduct risk assessments and vulnerability audits to prevent additional acts of workplace violence. This plea followed shootings at a truck engine factory in Melrose Park, Illinois. It was based on findings from the society's "Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper" written by ASSE's JoAnn M. Sullivan, CSP, and RIMS' Ruth A. Unks, ARM.

Workplace violence is not only homicide, according to the white paper. Harassment is the most significant form of 'on-the-job' workplace violence - affecting 16 million workers each year. Other acts of workplace violence may include stalking, threats, inappropriate communication, trespassing, telephone and e-mail harassment, property defacing, and invasion of privacy and confining or restraining victims.

A national survey of safety professionals and risk managers conducted by Illinois-based ASSE and the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) assessed awareness and prevention techniques used to avoid workplace violence.

Analysis of responses showed that:

- 41% of respondents stated that the number of workplace violence incidents in their organization had stayed about the same;
- 22% stated that it had increased;
- 31% said there were no incidents in their organization;
- 6% noted a decrease.

The ASSE/RIMS white paper outlined a number of steps that employers should take in order to prevent violent incidents and also actions to be taken to help employees cope if violence takes place.

The authors of the white paper recommend:

Directors and senior managers establish a workplace violence prevention and security policy. They should promote clear anti-violence corporate policies, addressing the issue by distributing formal written policies and discussing them with all employees.

HR managers need to examine and improve their hiring practices, implement pre-screening techniques, utilize background checks, encourage employees to report threats or violent behavior, establish termination policies, and provide post-termination counseling.

Risk management and safety departments should train all employees to recognize the warning signs of aggressive or violent behavior, and also train managers in threat assessment and de-escalation techniques, review and verify insurance coverage, exclusions, etc.

How much attention is currently paid these issues? Respondents were asked if their organization had provided training to help identify warning signs leading to potentially violent behavior. 58% said yes; 38% said no; and 4% registered 'don't know'. And asked about the use of formal risk assessments of the potential for violent acts in the workplace 70% said no; 16% said yes; with 14% saying they did not know.

The white paper also advises that organizations should foster supportive, harmonious work environments in which employees are empowered. They should also encourage empathetic management skills - authoritarian leadership styles have a tendency to promote higher rates of on-the-job violence.

There has been a significant increase in deadly incidents in the workplace in recent years. As long ago as 1992, the U.S. Department of Justice found that 21,300 recent assaults and violent acts in the workplace had resulted in fatalities, injuries, grief stricken family and friends and missed days off from work because of the emotional impact. The cost to employers in days missed and legal fees amounted to $4.2 billion in 1992.

Workplace violence goes beyond costs. Employees who have witnessed violent acts in their place of work report increased stress and lower morale. This not only affects them negatively in day-to-day life, but may also produce lower productivity and increase absenteeism and staff turnover.

Copies of the "Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper" may be obtained from ASSE's customer service department at 847-699-2929 or by e-mail at customerservice@asse.org.

Websites with more information on workplace violence:

National Security Institute: Corporate Safety
NIOSH: Violence in the Workplace
NIOSH: Homicide in the Workplace
NIOSH: Developing and Implementing a Workplace Violence Prevention Program and Policy
Occupational Safety and Health Administration: OSHA .

ASSE's web site is at http://www.asse.org