Knowledge Center: Workplace Violence: Train To Prevent A Tragedy

Books On "Workplace Violence"

Why is it so important to provide violence prevention training, and what should that training include? Find out here.

During violence prevention training, employees should learn how to:

Recognize warning signs of violence
Report such behaviors
Defuse violent situations

Supervisors and managers should also be trained about these issues and additionally learn how to:

Follow up before a potential problem escalates
Communicate effectively with HR
Use conflict resolution techniques
XCounsel employees and administer appropriate discipline in violence-related cases

Training for all employees at all levels should also address the details of the organization's violence prevention policy, says Wayne Maxey, a senior consultant with Baron Center Inc., a San Diego—based consulting and training firm known for its expertise in violence intervention and prevention, threat assessment, and posttrauma response.

Problem Behaviors:- Potentially problematic behaviors include anger, outbursts, physical assaults or intimidation, bullying, substance abuse, and mental health issues. Maxey says that employees should also report co-workers' comments about getting even with supervisors or the company as well as comments about weapons, homicide, or suicide.

Similarly, if a co-worker is fixated on recent incidents of workplace violence reported in the news or makes disturbing comments about such incidents, this should be reported. It's better to encourage employees to report and be wrong about it than not to report and face a full-blown violent incident like a shooting that kills several people.

Training Requirements:- Maxey says that employees should receive violence prevention training when hired and complete a refresher course at least every 2 years.

Thanks to SafetyDailyAdvisor / BLR News

Books On "Workplace Violence"