Real Solutions, Not Just Reactions: How to Actually Prevent Workplace Violence Before It Starts

Although everyone is responsible for preventing and identifying workplace violence, there are specific measures that can be put in place to help avoid incidents and build a culture of non violence and non aggression. These control measures can be engineered in, be built into agency policy and can become a part of company culture. Engineering control measures are those that are integrated into the built environment. Depending on the facilities and use of space, these controls might include security systems, exit routes, metal detectors, areas designed to allow for threat de escalation and even proper lighting. Administrative control measures go a long way in communicating workplace expectations and policies. Examples include having a clearly stated threat and violence zero tolerance policy, tracking employees, clients and service contractors, especially any with a history of violence, and avoiding isolation and vulnerability in low security areas. Approaches in engineering and administrative control measures are as diverse as the spaces for which they are designed and the work cultures they serve. Perhaps as important as engineering and administrative control measures is the need to build in cultural controls those that encourage mutual beneficence, communication, and respect. This is beyond the scope of this training, but is an aspect of preventing and responding to workplace violence that likely bears consideration and at any place of work.