violence in the worplace - hazard and controls
DESCRIPTION
Recently there has been a surge in workplace violence. This includes both physical and mental abuse. Companies need to establish a comprehensive policy, program, and procedures to address all forms of workplace violence as well as the proper engineering and administrative controls. If you need a consultant to provide support, training, or review existing documentation, kindly contact The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc. by email at [email protected] for pricing and availability.TRANSCRIPT
OSHA RecommendationsOSHA Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention for Workplace Violence Prevention
ProgramsPrograms
Presented by:Presented by:Bernard L Fontaine, Jr., CIH, CSPBernard L Fontaine, Jr., CIH, CSPThe Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.The Windsor Consulting Group, Inc.14 Sheinfine Ave., South River, NJ 0888214 Sheinfine Ave., South River, NJ 08882Email: [email protected]: [email protected]
What Is Workplace Violence?
Workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting
Workplace Violence
Violence is a leading cause of workplace fatality, Violence is a leading cause of workplace fatality, resulting in 856 deaths in 1997 (BLS)resulting in 856 deaths in 1997 (BLS)
Most common type of Most common type of workplace fatality is a workplace fatality is a shooting during the robbery shooting during the robbery of a retail, service or of a retail, service or transportation workertransportation worker
Extent of Problem
Job-related homicides in retail trades Job-related homicides in retail trades accounted for almost half of all workplace accounted for almost half of all workplace homicides in 1997homicides in 1997
Homicides in convenience and other Homicides in convenience and other grocery stores, eating and drinking places, grocery stores, eating and drinking places, and gasoline service stations and gasoline service stations constituted the largest constituted the largest share of homicides in retail establishments share of homicides in retail establishments
Assaults and Homicides
0
200000
400000
600000
800000
1000000
1200000
1400000
1600000
simple assaultsaggravated assaultsrapes, sexual assaultsrobberieshomicides
Risk Factors
Contact with the publicContact with the public Exchange of moneyExchange of money Delivery of passengers, goods, or Delivery of passengers, goods, or
servicesservices Having a mobile workplace such as a Having a mobile workplace such as a
taxicab or police cruisertaxicab or police cruiser
Risk Factors (Cont’d)
Working alone or in small numbersWorking alone or in small numbers Working in high crime areasWorking in high crime areas Working late, at night, or during early Working late, at night, or during early
morning hoursmorning hours Guarding valuable property or Guarding valuable property or
possessionspossessions
OSHA’s Commitment
OSHA has developed recommendations OSHA has developed recommendations to assist employers to develop workplace to assist employers to develop workplace violence prevention programsviolence prevention programs
OSHA’s Commitment (cont’d)
Recommendations are based on:Recommendations are based on: OSHA’s Safety and Health Management OSHA’s Safety and Health Management
GuidelinesGuidelines State regulations or recommendations State regulations or recommendations
from CA, FL, and WAfrom CA, FL, and WA
Occupational Safety and Health
The OSH Act of 1970 mandates that, in addition to compliance with hazard-specific standards, all employers have a general duty to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards 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 (the “General Duty Clause”) for enforcement authority
Recommendations
Educational tool to help employers Educational tool to help employers - design, select, and implement workplace - design, select, and implement workplace violence prevention programs violence prevention programs - tailored to meet the specific needs and - tailored to meet the specific needs and risk factors in their workplacerisk factors in their workplace
Recommendations
Not a standardNot a standard Does not create any new OSHA dutiesDoes not create any new OSHA duties Not a model programNot a model program Not a “one size fits all” answerNot a “one size fits all” answer
Violence Prevention Program Elements
Management Management Commitment Commitment and Employee and Employee InvolvementInvolvement
Worksite Worksite AnalysisAnalysis
Hazard Hazard Prevention and Prevention and ControlControl
TrainingTraining EvaluationEvaluation
Management Commitment
Create and share a policy of violence Create and share a policy of violence preventionprevention
Take incidents seriouslyTake incidents seriously Outline a security planOutline a security plan Assign responsibility, authority Assign responsibility, authority
and resources and resources
Management Commitment
Hold employees accountableHold employees accountable Encourage prompt reporting and trackingEncourage prompt reporting and tracking Encourage employees to get involved and Encourage employees to get involved and
make recommendationsmake recommendations
Management Commitment
Make sure employees who report problems or Make sure employees who report problems or experience an incident are not punished or experience an incident are not punished or discriminated (11c) againstdiscriminated (11c) against
Work with others to improve securityWork with others to improve security- Police- Police- Landlords- Landlords- Employer Associations- Employer Associations
Employee Involvement
Participate in surveys and offer suggestionsParticipate in surveys and offer suggestions Assist in security analysis and inspectionAssist in security analysis and inspection Help evaluate prevention and control measuresHelp evaluate prevention and control measures Train other employeesTrain other employees Share on-the-job experiences with other Share on-the-job experiences with other
employeesemployees
Worksite Hazard Analysis
Step-by-step, common sense look at the Step-by-step, common sense look at the workplace to find existing and potential workplace to find existing and potential hazards. hazards. - Review records and past incidents- Review records and past incidents- Workplace security analysis- Workplace security analysis- Periodic safety audits- Periodic safety audits
Prevention Strategies
Reduce the risk of robbery by:Reduce the risk of robbery by:Increasing effort that the perpetrator Increasing effort that the perpetrator
must expendmust expendIncreasing risks to Increasing risks to
the perpetrator the perpetratorReducing rewards Reducing rewards
to the perpetrator to the perpetrator
Hazard Prevention and Control
Engineering controls and workplace adaptationEngineering controls and workplace adaptation Administrative and work practice controlsAdministrative and work practice controls Post incident responsePost incident response
Engineering Controls
Visibility and lighting Drop safes Video surveillance Height markers
Door detectors, buzzers
Alarms Bullet resistant
barriers
OSHAX.org – The Unofficial Guide to the OSHA
Administrative and Work Practice Controls
Integrate violence prevention into daily Integrate violence prevention into daily proceduresprocedures
Minimal cash in registerMinimal cash in register Emergency reporting proceduresEmergency reporting procedures System of communicationSystem of communication Procedures to use barriers & enclosuresProcedures to use barriers & enclosures Increase staffing at high risk Increase staffing at high risk
locations/timeslocations/times
Lock delivery doorsLock delivery doors Establish rules for workers leaving facilityEstablish rules for workers leaving facility Lock doors when not open, procedures Lock doors when not open, procedures
for opening and closingfor opening and closing Limit accessLimit access Adopt safety procedures for off-site workAdopt safety procedures for off-site work
Administrative and Work Practice Controls
Post Incident Response Get medical care for injured victims Report to police and other authorities Inform management Secure the premises - safeguard evidence Prepare incident report immediately Arrange appropriate psychological treatment for victims
OSHAX.org – The Unofficial Guide to the OSHA
Management and Personnel Training
Ensure that all staff are aware of security Ensure that all staff are aware of security hazards and protective procedureshazards and protective procedures
WorkersWorkersPotential risksPotential risksOperational proceduresOperational proceduresUse of security measuresUse of security measuresBehavioral strategiesBehavioral strategiesIncident responseIncident responseEmergency actionEmergency action
Supervisors, managers and security Supervisors, managers and security personnelpersonnel
- Same training as other workers- Same training as other workers- Additional training to help them - Additional training to help them recognize, analyze and establish recognize, analyze and establish controlscontrols
Management and Personnel Training
Evaluation
RecordkeepingRecordkeepingInjuriesInjuriesIncidentsIncidentsHazard analysesHazard analysesRecommendations from police, Recommendations from police,
consultants, employeesconsultants, employeesHazard correctionHazard correctionTraining and safety meetingsTraining and safety meetings
Evaluation
• Review the results of safety auditsReview the results of safety audits• Review post incident reportsReview post incident reports• Review minutes from safety meetingsReview minutes from safety meetings• Analyze trends in incidents, injuries, etc.Analyze trends in incidents, injuries, etc.• Consult with employees before & after Consult with employees before & after
worksite changesworksite changes• Update information on violence Update information on violence
prevention strategiesprevention strategies
Sources of Assistance
OSHA Internet Site OSHA Internet Site www.osha.govwww.osha.gov The Unofficial Guide to the OSHA – The Unofficial Guide to the OSHA –
www.oshax.org www.oshax.org OSHA State Programs (California, Florida, OSHA State Programs (California, Florida,
Virginia, Washington have developed specific Virginia, Washington have developed specific guidelines and recommendations)guidelines and recommendations)
OSHA Consultation ProgramOSHA Consultation Program NIOSHNIOSH Trade Associations, Unions, Insurers, etc..Trade Associations, Unions, Insurers, etc..