DES PLAINES, Ill., Dec. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Based on the findings from a national "Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper" and in light of the post-Christmas office shootings in Wakefield, Massachusetts, the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) urges employers to review their workplace violence prevention policies, conduct a risk assessment and vulnerability audit now in an effort to save lives and prevent additional acts of workplace violence.
A recent analysis of a national survey of safety
professionals and risk managers done by the 89-year-old Illinois-based
ASSE and the Risk and Insurance Management Society (RIMS) assessing the
awareness and prevention techniques used to avoid workplace violence found
that although the number of incidents in the respondents' workplaces have
stayed the same, employees remain concerned. In response to those concerns
the ASSE/RIMS white paper outline several steps employers should take to
prevent a violent incident and what can be done following one to assist
employees cope with the tragedy.
In the "Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper" the ASSE
Risk Management/Insurance Practice Specialty members suggest that officers
and directors establish a workplace violence prevention and security
policy. Upper management of any organization need to promote a clear
anti-violence corporate policy by addressing the issue in a formal written
policy that must be distributed and discussed with all employees. Human
resource managers are advised to examine and improve hiring practices,
implement pre-screening techniques, utilize background checks, encourage
employees to report threats or violent behavior, establish termination
policies, and provide post-termination counseling. Risk management and
safety departments are advised to train all employees in the warning signs
of aggressive or violent behavior, train management in threat assessment
and de-escalation techniques, review and verify insurance coverage,
exclusions and so on. Also recommended is that a supportive, harmonious work environment
should be fostered which allows employees to be empowered and at the same
time empathetic management skills should be encouraged, as authoritarian
leadership styles tend to promote higher rates of on-the-job violence,
according to the study. It is important to note, the white paper states that legally, employers
may be liable for failing to provide adequate on-site safety and security
measures after they have been notified of a potential danger. According to
the white paper, the U.S. Supreme Court recently rendered an opinion that
stated that an employer is subject to vicarious liability to a victimized
employee for an actionable hostile environment created by a supervisor
with immediate (or successfully higher) authority over the employee. ASSE and RIMS members noted the urgency of equipping employers with the
knowledge and resources needed to prevent violent workplace occurrences
following a major increase in the number of deadly incidents in the
workplace over the past few years. For instance, the U.S. Department of
Justice found that 21,300 recent assaults and violent acts in the
workplace resulted in not only fatalities, injuries, grief stricken family
and friends and missed days off from work due to the emotional impact, but
estimated that the cost to employers in days missed and legal fees
annually was $4.2 billion in 1992. Workplace violence causes far more than a financial toll. Employees
witnessing violent acts in the workplace report increased levels of stress
and lower morale, which can not only affect them negatively in their
day-to-day lives, but can lead to decreased productivity and increased
absenteeism and turnover. Workplace violence is more than homicide, the white paper states, and
harassment is the leading form of on the job workplace violence with 16
million workers being harassed each year. Other violent acts can include
stalking, threats, inappropriate communication, trespassing, telephone and
e-mail harassment, property defacing, and invasion of privacy and
confining or restraining victims. The authors of the "Workplace Violence Survey and White
Paper" are JoAnn M. Sullivan, CSP, administrator of the ASSE Risk
Management/Insurance Practice Specialty group and Ruth A. Unks, ARM,
member of the Risk and Insurance Management Society, Inc. External Affairs
Committee. For a copy of the "Workplace Violence Survey and White
Paper" please contact ASSE's customer service department at
847-699-2929 or by e-mail at customerservice@asse.org. ASSE is the oldest and largest society of safety professionals in the
world. Founded in 1911, ASSE represents 32,000 safety professionals
including Certified Safety Professionals, Certified Industrial Hygienists,
Professional Engineers, Ergonomists, Academicians, Fire Protection
Engineers, System Safety Experts, Health Professionals, and a wide
collection of other disciplines, skills, and backgrounds. ASSE also has 12
practice specialty divisions consisting of: Construction, Consultants,
Engineering, Environmental, Health Care, Industrial Hygiene,
International, Management, Public Sector, Risk Management and Insurance,
Mining, and Transportation who are leaders in their field. They assist in
developing national and international safety standards and national
regulations based on their experience and knowledge. Further information
can be found on ASSE's web site at www.asse.org. SOURCE: American Society of Safety Engineers WEB SITE: http://www.asse.org/ CO: American Society of Safety Engineers ST: Illinois, Massachusetts
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