CAB - Agricultural Safety Resource Guide: 14

- Research Publications -

Agricultural Safety Resource Guide

14 - WORKPLACE SECURITY

Introduction

Many workplaces are at risk for workplace violence, but certain workplaces are recognized to be at significantly greater risk than others. Therefore, every employer should perform an initial assessment of workplace security issues. If the initial assessment determines that employees are at a significant risk for workplace violence, then the employer should develop a program for workplace security.

A U.S. Department of Justice study found that as a result of workplace violence, more than 500,000 employees will miss 1.8 million days of work annually, resulting in more than $55 million in lost wages, not counting days covered by sick or annual leave.

Employee assistance programs which direct people to a number of support services can help to reduce these statistics. Following a response plan can make the difference between a situation remaining manageable or turning life-threatening. If you have one or more of the following situations at your workplace, consider your workplace to be at potential risk of violence:

Exchange of money
Employees working alone at night or during early morning hours
Availability of valued items
Performance of public safety functions in the community
Working with patients, clients, or customers known or suspected to have a history of violence
Employees with a history of assaults or who exhibit belligerent, intimidating, or threatening behavior to others
These are just some of the factors that contribute to workplace violence. If you have identified any of these or other indicators of violence, then a further evaluation should be performed.

Rules and regulations

OSHA has no specific regulation for preventing workplace violence; however, employers have a general responsibility to protect their employees under OSHA law. If OSHA were to ascribe liability for workplace violence, it would likely cite the General Duty Clause (Section 5a) which requires employers to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause serious injury. To date, OSHA has cited several employers who have violated this statutory duty.

Model programs

CAL/OSHA - Injury & Illness Prevention Program for Workplace Security.

U.S. Department of Justice - Prevention Guide for Security in the Workplace.

Most local police departments - have workplace violence prevention booklets available.

Articles

Clemons, Arnold. "Company programs can prevent workplace violence." USA Today (magazine). Dec. 1995 Vol. 124.

"Creating a violence-free company culture." Nation's Business. Feb. 1995.

"Forming a Violence Response Team." HRFocus Aug. 1995.

Allen, Joseph. "How to keep a dangerous situation from getting out of hand." Time Magazine. Jan. 1995.

Edmunds, Cheryl. "Workplace violence prevention programs." Newsweek. Aug. 1995.

Filippi, Thomas. "Violence in the Workplace: Containing the Problem." Professional Safety. June 1996.

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