1. Preventing Violence in
the Workplace

2. Workplace Violence
Violence is the second leading cause of
death in the workplace.

3. Workplace Violence
• 1980s – 760 murders

4. Workplace Violence
• 1980s – 760 murders
• 1990s – 1000 to 1600 murders

5. Statistics
An estimated two million workers are
physically attacked each year.

6. Types of Workplace Violence

7. Outsiders
The perpetrator has no legitimate
business relationship to the workplace
and enters the workplace to commit a
robbery or other criminal act.

8. Insiders
The perpetrator is either the recipient
or the object of a service provided by
the affected workplace or victim.

9. Employee Connection
The perpetrator has some
employment-related involvement with
the affected workplace.

10. Ingredients for
Workplace Violence

11. Mental Illness
Mental illness is a core factor for those
who commit workplace homicides.

12. Clinical Depression
Clinical depression is the most
common problem seen by therapists,
counselors and psychologists.

13. Personality Disorder
Personality has a tremendous impact
on how we function in relationships, in
the world and at work.

14. Personality Disorder
When the pattern of thinking and
relating deviates from the norm, these
traits can become personality disorders.

15. PTSD
Individuals who experience Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have
been exposed to a traumatic event.

16. Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and chemical
dependency can lead a person to a
violent action and increase paranoia
and aggression.

17. Psychosis
A person who is psychotic has lost
contact with reality and the ability to
deal with normal, daily stress.

18. Limited Coping Skills
Limited or nonexistent coping skills
lead to the inability to deal with
normal, daily stress.

19. Limited Coping Skills
Individuals will often overreact to
negative events.

20. Limited Support Systems
Inaccessibility to adequate social
support systems places individuals at
further risk for perpetrating an act of
workplace violence.

21. Mental Illness
Workplace violence isn’t a reflection
on society, organizations or managers
but the employee’s inability to deal
rationally and nonviolently with his
or her problem.

22. Workplace Violence
Perpetrators

23. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Male

24. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Male
• History of violence

25. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Male
• History of violence
• Loner

26. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Male
• History of violence
• Loner
• Owns several weapons

27. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Requested assistance

28. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Requested assistance
• Angry person

29. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Requested assistance
• Angry person
• History of interpersonal conflict

30. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Socially withdrawn

31. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Socially withdrawn
• Introverted

32. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Socially withdrawn
• Introverted
• Paranoid

33. Profile of a Typical Perpetrator
• Socially withdrawn
• Introverted
• Paranoid
• Engages in self-destructive actions

34. Disgruntled Complainer
Most cases, called “revenge
attacks,” involve chronically
disgruntled complainers.

35. Disgruntled Complainer
These perpetrators have chronic
disciplinary histories, poor
interpersonal relationships and a
history of impulsive behavior.

36. Loner
The loner may work at an
organization for years without
anybody really knowing him or her.

37. Loner
Loners are most likely to plot and plan
an act of violence.

38. Domestic Abuser
Domestic abusers include a current or
former husband, lover, partner or
boyfriend who come into the workplace
to kill or injure their partners.

39. Domestic Abuser
When women are at work, their
partners know where to find them,
and this places not only the victim
but the whole workplace at risk.

40. Romantic Obsessor
Romantic obsessors believe that the
object of their attraction is in love
with them.

41. Romantic Obsessor
The behavior generally escalates and
may start with letters and intensify to
harassing phone calls, attempted
personal contact, threats and
even assault.

42. Warning Signs

43. Warning Signs
• Attendance problems

44. Warning Signs
• Attendance problems
• Impact on manager’s time

45. Warning Signs
• Attendance problems
• Impact on manager’s time
• Decreased productivity

46. Warning Signs
• Attendance problems
• Impact on manager’s time
• Decreased productivity
• Inconsistent work patterns

47. Warning Signs
• Poor on-the-job relationships

48. Warning Signs
• Poor on-the-job relationships
• Concentration problems

49. Warning Signs
• Poor on-the-job relationships
• Concentration problems
• Safety issues

50. Warning Signs
• Poor on-the-job relationships
• Concentration problems
• Safety issues
• Poor health and hygiene

51. Warning Signs
• Unusual or changed behavior

52. Warning Signs
• Unusual or changed behavior
• Fascination with guns or other weapons

53. Warning Signs
• Unusual or changed behavior
• Fascination with guns or other weapons
• Evidence of possible drug use or
alcohol abuse

54. Warning Signs
• Evidence of serious stress in personal
life

55. Warning Signs
• Evidence of serious stress in personal
life
• Continual excuses or blame

56. Warning Signs
• Evidence of serious stress in personal
life
• Continual excuses or blame
• Unshakable depression

57. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation

58. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
1. Report any concerns or
inappropriate behavior.

59. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
1. Report any concerns or
inappropriate behavior.
2. Pay attention to your “gut feelings.”
Don’t panic – stay calm.

60. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
1. Report any concerns or
inappropriate behavior.
2. Pay attention to your “gut feelings.”
Don’t panic – stay calm.
3. Speak in a normal voice.

61. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
4. Don’t argue.

62. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
4. Don’t argue.
5. Acknowledge the emotion of
the situation.

63. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
4. Don’t argue.
5. Acknowledge the emotion of
the situation.
6. Establish boundaries.

64. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
7. Ask questions.

65. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
7. Ask questions.
8. Know your reporting procedures.

66. Dealing with a Potentially
Violent Situation
7. Ask questions.
8. Know your reporting procedures.
9. State consequences.

67. Emergency Responses

68. Emergency Responses
• Protect yourself

69. Emergency Responses
• Protect yourself
• Call for help

70. Emergency Responses
• Protect yourself
• Call for help
• Evacuate the building

71. Preventing Violence in
the Workplace