OSHA - Workplace Violence Prevention

OSHA - Workplace Violence Prevention

Course Description

This course focuses on OSHA's standards regarding workplace violence, and includes subtopics such as examples, risk factors and management's role in prevention.

Accreditation Information: KLA Education Services LLC is accredited by the State of California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider # CEP16145.

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Course Objectives

Upon completion of this course, the course participant will be able to:

  • Define workplace violence.
  • List 3 examples of workplace violence.
  • List 3 contributing factors to workplace violence.
  • List 2 ways employees can be involved in prevention.


Course Content

Workplace Violence Definitions

  • Workplace Violence: any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting
  • Workplace: any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs any work-related duty
    • includes, but is not limited to, the buildings and the surrounding perimeters, including the parking lots, field locations, clients’ homes and traveling to and from work assignments

Workplace Violence Includes

Beatings Stabbings
Suicides Shootings
Rapes Near-suicides
Psychological Traumas Threats
Obscene Phone Calls Intimidation (swearing, shouting)
Harrassment Being followed

EXAMPLES

  • Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm; including vague or covert threats

  • Attempting to cause physical harm; striking, pushing and other aggressive physical acts against another person

  • Verbal harassment; abusive or offensive language, gestures or other discourteous conduct towards supervisors, fellow employees, or the public

  • Disorderly conduct, such as shouting, throwing or pushing objects, punching walls, and slamming doors

  • Making false, malicious or unfounded statements against coworkers, supervisors, or subordinates which tend to damage their reputations or undermine their authority

  • Inappropriate remarks, such as making delusional statements

  • Fascination with guns or other weapons, bringing weapons into the workplace

Types of Workplace Violence

  • Violence by strangers

  • Violence by customers or clients

  • Violence by co-workers

  • Violence by personal relations

Statistics on Workplace Violence

  • Homicide is the third leading cause of death in the workplace

  • In 2016, there were 500 homicides in America’s workplaces

  • Assaults and threats of violence number almost 2 million a year

  • Most common were simple assaults: 1.5 million a year

    • Aggravated assaults: 396,000

    • Rapes and sexual assaults: 51,000

    • Robberies: 84,000

Risk Factors

  • Prevalence of handguns and other weapons among patients, their families, or friends

  • Increasing use of hospitals by the criminal justice system for criminal holds and the care of acutely disturbed, violent individuals

  • Increasing number of acute and chronically mentally ill patients being released from hospitals without follow-up care, who now have the right to refuse medicine and who can no longer be hospitalized involuntarily unless they pose a threat to themselves or others

  • Availability of drugs and money at hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, making them likely robbery targets

  • Unrestricted movement of the public in clinics and hospitals

  • Presence of gang members, drug/alcohol abusers, trauma patients, distraught family members

  • Low staffing levels during times of increased activity such as meal and visiting times, transporting of patients

  • Isolated work with clients during exams or treatment

  • Solo work, often in remote locations, high crime settings with no back-up or means of obtaining assistance such as communication devices or alarm systems

  • Lack of training in recognizing and managing escalating hostile and aggressive behavior

  • Poorly-lighted parking areas

OSHA’s Commitment

OSHA has developed guidelines to provide information to assist employers in meeting their responsibilities under the OSH Act.

OSHA Guidelines

  • Not a new standard or regulation

  • Advisory in nature and informational in content

  • Intended for use by employers who are seeking to provide a safe and healthful workplace through effective workplace violence programs

OSHA GENERAL DUTY CLAUSE: SECTION 5(a)(1)

  • Each employer shall furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm
  • This includes the prevention and control of the hazard of workplace violence
  • OSHA will rely on Section 5 (a)(1) of the OSH Act for enforcement authority

Workplace Violence: Prevention Program Elements

  • Management Commitment and Employee Involvement

  • Worksite Analysis

  • Hazard Prevention and Control

  • Training and Education

  • Recordkeeping and Evaluation of Program

Management Commitment and Employee Involvement

  • Complementary and essential

  • Management commitment provides the motivating force to deal effectively with workplace violence

  • Employee involvement and feedback-enable workers to develop and express their commitment to safety and health

Management Commitment

  • Organizational concern for employee emotional and physical safety and health

  • Equal commitment to worker safety and health and patient/client safety

  • System of accountability for involved managers, and employees

  • Create and disseminate a clear policy of zero tolerance for workplace violence

  • Ensure no reprisals are taken against employees who report incidents

  • Encourage employees to promptly report incidents and suggest ways to reduce or eliminate risks

  • Outline a comprehensive plan for maintaining security in the workplace

  • Assign responsibility and authority for program to individuals with appropriate training and skills

  • Affirm management commitment to worker supportive environment

  • Set up company briefings as part of the initial effort to address safety issues

Employee Involvement

  • Understand and comply with the workplace violence prevention program and other safety and security measures

  • Participate in employee complaints or suggestion procedures covering safety and security concerns

  • Prompt and accurate reporting of violent incidents

Worksite Analysis

  • Step-by-step look at the workplace to find existing or potential hazards for workplace violence
  • A “Threat assessment Team”, Patient Assault Team, or similar task force may assess the vulnerability to workplace violence and determine appropriate actions
  • Recommended Program:
    • Analyzing and tracking records

    • Monitoring trends and analyzing incidents

    • Screening surveys

    • Analyzing workplace security

Hazard Prevention and Control

  • Engineering controls and workplace adaptation

    • Alarm systems and other security devices

    • Metal detectors

    • Closed-circuit video recording for high-risk areas

    • Safe rooms for use during emergencies

    • Enclose nurses’ station, install deep service counters or bullet-resistant glass in reception area, triage, admitting

  • Administrative and work practice controls

    • State clearly to patients, clients, and employees that violence will not be tolerated or permitted

    • Establish liaison with local police and state prosecutors

    • Require employees to report all assaults and threats

    • Set up trained response teams to respond to emergencies

  • Post incident response

    • Provide comprehensive treatment for victimized employees and employees who may be traumatized by witnessing a workplace violence incident

    • Trauma-crisis counseling

    • Critical incident stress debriefing

    • Employee assistance programs to assist victims

Training and Education

  • Ensure that all staff are aware of potential security hazards and ways of protecting themselves.
  • Employees should understand concept of “Universal Precautions for Violence”, i.e., that violence should be expected but can be avoided or mitigated through preparation.

  • Employees should be instructed to limit physical interventions in workplace altercations unless designated emergency response team or security personnel are available.

Recordkeeping and Evaluation

  • Recordkeeping and evaluation of the violence prevention program are necessary to determine overall effectiveness and identify deficiencies or changes that should be made.
  • Recordkeeping
    • OSHA Log of Injury and Illness (OSHA 300)

    • Medical reports of work injuries assaults

    • Incidents of abuse, verbal attacks, or aggressive behavior

    • Information on patients with history of violence

    • Minutes of safety meetings, records of hazard analyses, and corrective actions

    • Records of all training programs

  • Evaluation

    • Establish uniform violence reporting system and regular review of reports

    • Review reports of minutes from staff meetings on safety issues

    • Analyze trends and rates in illness/injury or fatalities caused by violence

    • Measure improvement based on lowering frequency and severity of workplace violence

Sources of Assistance

  • OSHA Consultation Program

  • OSHA Internet Site www.osha.gov

  • NIOSH

  • Public Safety Officials

  • Trade Associations

  • Unions and Insurers

  • Human Resource and Employee Assistance Professionals

Course Evaluation

Please select the extent to the following was met. (Disagree..Agree)

1. Course met objectives?

(1) (5)

2. Applicability or usability of new information?

(1) (5)

3. Adequacy of the instructor's mastery of subject?

(1) (5)

4. Efficiency of course mechanics?

(1) (5)

Course Evaluation

Please select the extent to the following was met. (Disagree..Agree)

1. Course met objectives?

(1) (5)

2. Applicability or usability of new information?

(1) (5)

3. Adequacy of the instructor's mastery of subject?

(1) (5)

4. Efficiency of course mechanics?

(1) (5)

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