Tips for Preventing Workplace Violence & Promoting a Safe Work Environment

It is unfortunate that this conversation has to happen, but keeping your employees safe from workplace violence is an important part of being a business or facility owner. While the statistics for workplace violence decreased between 1994 and 2014, according to one study about trends in workplace violence, workplace violence is back on the rise. Even during March through October during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were over 400 cases of workplace violence.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “20,050 workers in the private industry experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence in 2020.” Additionally, 392 U.S. workers died from workplace homicide in 2020. Those are startling numbers.

At Securida, we understand the importance of keeping your employees safe during their work hours. We’ll show you some tips for preventing workplace violence, promoting a safe work environment for all your employees and building staff, and building staff.

Analyze Your Workplace

Before considering any changes to your workplace to reduce violence, you should analyze the current state of affairs. Consider if there have been any instances of workplace violence before, what kind it was, and who was involved.

Was the workplace violence properly handled, and were there any measures put in place after the incident occurred?

Also, consider if there have been no instances of workplace violence, then what are you doing correctly to keep that from happening? Reread your workplace violence policy and see if there are any gaps that you could fill with a rewritten policy.

What about your facility itself? Are your doors kept locked, and are your employees protected when they leave for the night?

These questions can help you get a better understanding of your workplace and the potential for violence.

Healthcare Facilities: The Biggest Target for Workplace Violence

One of the industries that sees the most workplace violence is healthcare. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the incidents of workplace violence in healthcare increased dramatically between 2011 and 2018. Healthcare workers were 73% of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries in 2018. Psychiatric aids and psychiatric technicians bear the brunt of most workplace violence in healthcare.

This makes healthcare security an essential component. By including access control, video surveillance, ID checks, and emergency response and panic buttons, healthcare workers can be better protected from violence. Security guards in healthcare are a must.

Create a Supportive Environment

It is important that you and your HR department make your employees feel safe and heard if they come to you for help. This can include altercations between employees or threats against an employee in their home. An angry partner may show up at your workplace to harass your employee, and they need to be protected against that possibility.

Help your business create a supportive environment so your employees feel safe to bring these concerns to you or HR. Making them feel like they can speak their minds about violence can help stop further issues from occurring.

Establish a Clear Workplace Violence Policy

You also need to consider how your company handles workplace violence. What support or disciplinary actions will you take against someone who has committed workplace violence? What support is there for the victim?

If you haven’t considered these questions, it is important to do so. Make sure your workplace violence policy is distributed to your employees. It’s also a good idea to have them sign off on understanding the policy. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) suggests that having an implemented workplace violence prevention program can help reduce instances of workplace violence.

The Importance of Having a Security Plan for Your Business

A security plan incorporates more than just a workplace violence policy. A security plan is a set of procedures and documentation that outlines and trains your staff in relevant security measures. You could do emergency response planning and training and develop a comprehensive strategy.

A security plan usually includes:

Inventory Management of Security Devices
Emergency Response Planning and Training
Ongoing Maintenance for Critical Systems
Developing Redundancies and Backups in Case of Emergency
Patrol Routing for Security Guard Services
Report Structure

Why You Need a Security Plan

While every business will develop a security plan at some point, you may need to take it a step further and make it more robust. Security plans are a great way to learn more about your business.

Hazard assessments can help you find safety issues that could harm employees or lead to potential violence. Security plans are essential for keeping employees safe.

How to Choose the Right Security Company for Your Needs

If you have decided that you need additional security support, such as a security guard or a security force, you want to make sure you choose the right company for your needs.

A good security company will ensure its employees are well-trained and experienced to handle any problems that may arise. The security officers may also have law enforcement or military backgrounds. You’ll also want to look for a company with many years of experience in security.

If you’re in the Minneapolis area, Securida can help you create a safer environment for your employees. We can provide armed or unarmed security officers, as well as long- or short-term contracts.

We have expertise in all federal laws, state guidelines, and local government ordinances relevant to your business.

How Unarmed & Armed Guards Maintain Safety

Whether your business needs unarmed or armed guards, they provide essential protection for workers and employees in your facility. Some of their duties include:

Enforce legal compliance
Respond to distress calls and emergency situations
Provide first aid or CPR if necessary
Engaging, visible, and observant at all times
Provide de-escalation during situations
Promote resilience
Save lives
Manage emergency situations with calm and clarity]

Contact Securida Today for a Free Estimate!

We want to help protect you and your employees from potential violence. That’s why we offer free estimates to our future clients.

With over 30 years of combined security experience, Securida is equipped to handle whatever security needs you may have. We have experience in many sectors and can help you create a violence-free place for your employees to work and thrive.

Call us today at 612-444-3308 or send us a message on our website.