This document discusses workplace violence and provides strategies for prevention. It begins with examples of past incidents of workplace violence and their impact. Certain jobs and situations involve higher risk factors for violence, such as interacting with the public, working alone, and working with unstable individuals. Threats must be taken seriously and reported immediately to authorities. Employers can implement prevention strategies like limiting cash, increasing visibility, and using crime prevention through environmental design principles to define space and activity areas. Employers may also be held liable if they are notified of a potential threat but fail to take appropriate action. The document encourages setting policies, training employees, and conducting security surveys to prevent workplace violence.

1. Workplace Violence
A Call To Action!
Citizen & Neighborhood
Resources Department
Scottsdale, Arizona

2. Overview
Two examples
The impact
Risk factors
Threats
Dealing with difficult people
Prevention strategies (CPTED)
Vicarious liability

3. The “Wake-Up Call”
City of Phoenix Human Resources
Department, June 11, 1992
Changed the way 9-1-1 calls are
taken:
1. Dialing 9 to get an outside line
2. Stay where you are, help is on the way!
3. Caller ID when a business moves

4. Lessons Learned in
1999
Los Angeles Jewish Community
Center Shooting on August 10, 1999
Suspect: Buford O’Neal Furrow, Jr.
Victims: 3 children, one teenager,
68 year old woman & a Mail Carrier
1. Scouted out sites prior
2. Picked LA JCC due to easy access
& visible targets (children)

5. The Impact
444 Homicides in the USA in 2008 - down
from 900 in 1995 (source: Reuters 10/05/09)
Most victims are store clerks and taxi cab
drivers (source: Reuters 10/05/09)
Crime victimization costs employers
1,751,100 days off work per year or 3.5 days
per victimization
Employees missing work (not paid vacation or
sick time) cost them $55 million in lost wages

6. Definition
WORKPLACE VIOLENCE is any
physical assault, threatening behavior,
or verbal abuse occurring in the work
setting

7. Another Definition
A WORKPLACE may be any location either
permanent or temporary where an employee
performs any work-related duty. This
includes, but is not limited to:
 Buildings and the surrounding perimeters
 Parking lots
 Field locations
 Clients’ homes
 Traveling to and from work assignments

8. Interesting Facts
Most likely to be attacked on the job:
Least likely to be attacked on the job:
Police Officers
College Professors
Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics

9. Risk Factors
Contact with the public
Exchange of money
Delivery of passengers, goods or
services
Mobile workplace (taxi, police car)
Working with unstable people
(healthcare, social service, criminal
justice)
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

10. More Risk Factors
Working alone or in small numbers
Working late at night or early in the
morning
Working in high-crime areas
Guarding valuable property
Working in community-based settings
Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

11. What is a Threat?
According to Arizona Revised Statutes:
an individual must say something
threatening and have the ability to carry
it out immediately.
“If I come up there, you’ll be sorry”
“If you do that again, I’m going to punch
you”
NO!
YES!

12. Dealing with Difficult
People In Person
Clues: red face, sweating, shaking,
wearing clothing to conceal weapons
(raincoat in the summer)
Response:

get on same level • Code words

Stand • Second person

Stay calm • Call 9-1-1

13. Safe Room
Have a room set aside that everyone
knows to go in an emergency
The room should have a phone and a
lock
Check to see if you have to dial “9” to
call 9-1-1 (old phone systems)
Does the room have a secondary
escape?

14. Dealing With Difficult
People On the Phone
Write exactly what
was said
If there is a pattern,
use a recording
device
Make sure it’s a
threat
Report it immediately

15. Prevention Strategies
Less cash or cashless transactions
Visibility and lighting
Code words, trouble lights
GPS tracking devices for field work
Training employees and supervisors
Crime Prevention Through
Environmental Design (CPTED)

16. CPTED
Five Principals:
Territoriality
 Define the territory as YOURS
 Can be done with fences,
barriers
 Shows pride of ownership
 Can prevent trespassing

17. CPTED
Five Principals:
Territoriality
Natural Surveillance
 Being able to see your property
while doing normal business
 Landscaping visibility is key
 Criminals don’t want to be
observed

18. Natural Surveillance
Example:
Front
Counter
Convenience Store Design in the 1980’s

19. Natural Surveillance
Example:
Front
Counter
Convenience Store Design Today

20. CPTED
Five Principals:
Territoriality
Natural Surveillance
Activity Support
 Place activities to observe
 Playground near cluster mailbox
 Risk increases for criminal

21. CPTED
Five Principals:
Territoriality
Natural Surveillance
Activity Support
Access Control
 Limit the entrances/exits
 Add barriers (gates/fences)
Chantilly Castle, France

22. CPTED
Five Principals:
Territoriality
Natural Surveillance
Activity Support
Access Control
Maintenance
 Regular and consistent

23. CPTED In Your Office
Where do you sit in your office?
Where do visitors sit in your office?
What is on your desk?

24. CPTED At the Front
Counter
Is there a barrier?
Do you have CCTV?
Can the front desk get help
quickly?
What’s the code word?
Concealed panic button?
Visible “in & out” board?
If customer refuses to leave?

25. Working Late
Walking to your car alone
Policies for two people to go to
night meetings
Company policies on personal
safety devices?
 Mace, pepper spray, sirens, stun
devices, cell phones, guns
Purse and brief case while
driving

26. Vicarious Liability
If you’ve been notified of a potential
threat and take no action, you can be
held liable for the events that occur from
your inaction
The James Snedigar example from
Chandler Police

27. The Court’s Test
1. Does the company have policies in place?
2. Has a high level person with the company been
assigned to ensure compliance?
3. Is the company doing all it can to prevent someone in
authority who has done criminal activity?
4. Has the company communicated its standards to
employees?
5. Has the company taken reasonable steps to get
compliance?
6. Standards enforced consistently?
7. After an occurrence, did the company take all possible
steps to prevent a re-occurrence?

28. What Now?
Set up office policy and practices
Train your employees!
Ask the police department for a
security survey utilizing CPTED
principles
Make the recommendations a
reality
Employee training: personal safety,
emergency procedures

29. Summary
Two examples
The impact
Risk factors
Threats
Dealing with difficult people
Prevention strategies (CPTED)
Vicarious liability

30. Questions?
Scottsdale Police
Department
480-312-5000 or
www.scottsdalepd.com