Workplace Violence Toolbox Talk

Workplace Violence Safety Talk

Workplace violence is a serious problem. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 524 workplace homicides in the U.S. in 2022, which was an 8.9% increase from the previous year.

Violence in the workplace is never acceptable, and any violent, aggressive, or threatening behavior must be addressed immediately.

Types of workplace violence

Workplace violence comes in many forms. Some examples of different types of workplace violence include:

1. Physical aggression

Physical aggression is the act of harming another person physically. If someone makes a threat about causing bodily harm to you, this is also considered an act of physical aggression.

While the assault itself may be physical, this type of violence can also disrupt your mental state and have an emotional impact. Report any instances of physical aggression to your supervisor as soon as possible.

2. Acts of violence

There are many different ways that an employee can experience violence, not all of them physical. Any type of violence that you experience from a co-worker or superior should be reported immediately.

Non-physical violent acts may include:

• Sexual violence

• Neglect

• Psychological abuse

3. Intimidation

Intimidation, or the act of purposefully making another person feel timid or fearful, is another form of violence. Some forms of intimidation that have been reported on the jobsite are:

• Emotional

• Sexual

• Physical

• Verbal

Intimidation can legally be considered harassment depending on the context of the situation.

4. Threats

A threat is a statement of the intention to inflict pain, injury, damage, or another hostile action.

If a coworker has made a threat to cause physical harm to you, your property, themselves, or another worker, don’t ignore it. While some may consider threats a lesser form of violence, they should still be reported immediately.

5. Disruptive behavior

When you are at work, your responsibility is to do your job. You should stay focused on the tasks at hand and avoid disruptive behavior.

If you act in a way that distracts other employees or makes them uncomfortable, this is inappropriate behavior for the workplace.

Responsibility of the employer

Employers are responsible for establishing and maintaining a safe work environment for their employees. Businesses should have a zero-tolerance rule in place for violence.

As a worker, if you are concerned about workplace violence, tell your supervisor. Many times supervisors are not present to witness the inappropriate behavior themselves, which is why prompt reporting is so important.

When you notify your supervisor, they'll step in to help resolve any issues.

How to address workplace violence in the moment

If you find yourself in a situation where workplace violence is occurring and there is no supervisor present, you will have to address the issue in the moment. Here are a few guidelines that may help:

• Try to stay calm to avoid making the situation worse

• Don’t argue with the perpetrator, as it will likely only escalate the problem

• Do not respond to or argue with any threats that are made

• Try to diffuse the situation and leave the area

• If you feel the person is going to hurt you, yell to get another worker's attention

What to do if you experience workplace violence

It is important to talk with your supervisor if you have experienced violence at work. You may be asked to give a written statement to document the incident. From there, your employer will address the issue with the other person.

The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires your employer to provide a safe working environment. It may not be your employer's fault that a violent incident happened, but it is their responsibility to provide support and a resolution.

Effects of workplace violence

If you are the victim of workplace violence, you may feel uncomfortable returning to work. There are many emotions that you may experience after the incident occurs.

Some common effects of workplace violence are:

• Trouble focusing at work

• Anxiety

• Insecurity

Always report workplace violence and never retaliate

When you are the victim of workplace violence, it can be tempting to retaliate. That's not always the best decision. Try not to fight back and be confrontational. Diffuse the issue as much as possible and report it to your supervisor instead if handling it alone.

There are times that you may feel that your problem is not taken seriously by your supervisor. If that has happened, take the problem to the next person higher up.

Don't wait to report. As soon as you see signs of workplace violence, report it. When a situation is addressed early, it is often much easier to control.