Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentSlide2

Proactive Preparedness

Workplace violence can happen at any time,

in any industry

While every work site and situation is unique, there are general prevention and preparedness guidelines that can be customized to any environment

Advance preparation and proactive awareness can help create a safe and caring work environment

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentSlide3

What is Workplace Violence?

Any action that could threaten the safety of anemployee, impact an employee’s

physical

or

psychological well-being, or cause damage to company property.

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentSlide4

Profile of an Active Shooter

An individual engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined, populated area

Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly

Because these situations are often over before police can arrive, individuals must be prepared

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentSlide5

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentU.S. Statistics

Average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 assaulted each week while at work

Retail trade and service industries

account for more than half of

workplace homicides and 85%

of non-fatal workplace assaults

Information obtained through the National Institute for Occupational Safety and HealthSlide6

Creating a Safe & Caring Work EnvironmentU.S. Statistics (cont.)

Estimated 16,400 threats are made,

723 workers are attacked and 43,800

workers are harassed

Information obtained through a study conducted by the Workplace Violence Institute.Slide7

Threat of job loss or less hoursPersonal problems unrelated to workJob pressure

Employment grievancesNon-sensitive termination/rigid

management styles

Personality conflicts

Negative performance appraisals

Economic pressure/mounting bills

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Causes of Workplace ViolenceSlide8

One of the most common causes ofworkplace violence is domestic violence that spills over into the workplace

U.S. Department of Labor reports that the alleged assailant in about one in six homicides of women at work is a current/former husband

or boyfriend

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Domestic ViolenceSlide9

Explosive outburstsEmpathy with violent individualsBehavioral signals may include:

- Direct or veiled threats of harm to self or others - Numerous conflicts- Intimidation/belligerence/

harassment/bullying

- Severe mood swings

Depression or paranoia

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Warning SignsSlide10

Statements indicating desperation over family/financial/personal problemsDrug/alcohol abuseSignificant changes in someone's

“normal” behavior or routinesNoticeable decrease in attention to personal appearance

Unexplained increase in absenteeism

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Warning Signs (cont.)Slide11

Preliminary risk evaluationTaking initial actions

Appropriate response measures

Call police

Evacuate or hide

Bringing the incident to conclusion

Following up/intervention

Consider measures to prevent

similar incidents

Monitor for any new threats

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Response ProcessSlide12

Call 911 Project calmness

- Move/speak quietly, slowly, and with confidence

Listen with empathy/Create dialogue

Let them know you are interested and listening

Focus your attention on them

Keep your posture relaxed but attentive

Position yourself at a right angle

Establish ground rules

Describe the consequences of violent behavior

Be careful not to threaten!

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

If Workplace Violence Does Occur …Slide13

Ask for specific, small favors- Asking the person to move to a quiet areaUse delay tactics

- Name…can I get you a glass of water?

Break problems into manageable units

- Be reassuring and offer options

Ask for recommendations; repeat back what is requested

Position yourself so exits are not blocked

Let someone else know what you are doing

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Conflict Resolution TechniquesSlide14

Use communication styles that generate hostility(apathy, coldness, giving the run around)Reject all of the person’s demands from the start

Pose in challenging stancesEngage in physical contact, finger pointing, staring

Make sudden or threatening movements

Threaten, challenge, belittle, or make them feel foolish

Act impatient or criticize the person

Attempt to bargain with a threatening person

Make false statements or promises

Invade the person’s personal space (3-4 ft. zone)

Use profanity

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Do NOT:Slide15

Recognize the warning signsUnderstand why employees become upset

Encourage employees to report

suspicious behaviors/threats

Practice conflict resolution

techniques

Lead by example – begins

with management

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Preventing Workplace ViolenceSlide16

While it is difficult to prevent incidents of workplace violence or any other unplanned event, it is important to work proactively to keep your workplace as safe as possible.

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Preventing Workplace ViolenceSlide17

ACTIVE SHOOTER

How to RespondSlide18

An individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area, typically through the use of firearms.

Victims are typically selected at random.

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active ShooterSlide19

1. Call 911 and Evacuate Have an escape route planed Silence your cell phone and/or pager

2. Hide (if you cannot evacuate) Leave belongings behind

Hide in an area out of the shooter’s view

Block hiding place entry & lock doors

3. If Approached

Remain calm and follow instructions

Keep hands visible at all times

4. Take Action

As a last resort; when your life is in

imminent danger

Attempt to incapacitate the shooter

Act with physical aggression - throw

items at the shooter

Call 911 Immediately!!!

5. When Officers Arrive

Remain calm and follow instructions

Put down any items in your hands

Raise hands and spread fingers

Keep hands visible at all times

Avoid quick movements

Avoid pointing, screaming or yelling

Do not stop to ask officers for help or

direction when evacuating

6. Important Information to

Relay to Officers

Location of the shooter

Physical description of shooter

Number of shooters

Number of potential victims

Number/type of weapons

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter – How to RespondSlide20

Be aware of your environment and possible dangersTake note of the two nearest exits

If in an office and not able to evacuate, stay there and secure the door

Take the shooter down

as

a last resortRemember:- Such events are unpredictable

and evolve quickly

- Law enforcement is usually required

to end an active shooter situation

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter - Coping

Call 911 when it is safe to do soSlide21

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Reporting fire and other emergenciesEvacuation policy/procedure

Emergency escape procedures/assignments

Contact information/responsibilities - EAP designates

Local area hospital information

Emergency notification system:

- Individuals at remote locations

- Local law enforcement

- Local area hospitals

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter - Training Your StaffSlide22

Training ExercisesConduct mock active shooter exercises

Use advice of local law enforcement

Recognize sounds of gunshots

React quickly to gunshots

- Evacuate the area- Hide- Act against shooter as last resort

Call 911

Arrival of law enforcement

Adopt the “survival” mindset

during times of crises

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter - Training Your StaffSlide23

Information for 911Location of shooter

Number of shooters

Description of shooters

Number/type of weapons

Number of potential victims

When Police Arrive

Remain calm, follow instructions

Keep hands visible

Avoid making quick movements

Do not stop officers, proceed in the direction from which the officers entered

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter - Training Your StaffSlide24

Ensure facility has at least two evacuation routesPost evacuation routes in conspicuous locations

Include law enforcement and first responders Encourage law enforcement, emergency responders, SWAT teams, K-9 units, & bomb squads to train at your location

Foster a respectful workplace

Be aware of indications of

workplace violence and take

remedial actions accordingly

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter -

Prepare For & PreventSlide25

Utilize HR and facility departmentsConduct employee screening/background checks

Create system for reporting signs of violent behavior including threats from spouses/partners

EAP to deal with active shooter and after action planning

Institute access controls

Distribute critical items: floor plans, keys, personnel lists/numbers

Coordinate with security

Assemble crisis kits: radios, floor plans, staff rooster,

first aid kits and flashlights

Removable floor plans near exits/entrances for responders

Activate emergency notification situation

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Preparation & ManagementSlide26

Employees will follow managers’ leadManagers must be familiar with EAP procedures

Take immediate actionRemain calm

Lock and barricade doors

Evacuate staff/visitors via

planned route to safe area

Ensure EAP has details

for evacuating individuals

with special needs

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter -

Manager ReactionsSlide27

Account for all individuals at assembly pointDetermine method for notifying affected families, including any causalities

Asses psychological state of individuals at the scene; refer tohealthcare specialists

Identify and file critical personnel

or operational gaps as a result

of the incident

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Active Shooter -

Managing the ConsequencesSlide28

Analyze and create an after action reportServe as documentation for response activities

Identify successes/failures that occurred during the eventAnalyze effectiveness

of the EAP

Define plan for making

improvements to the existing EAP

Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment

Lessons LearnedSlide29

Questions?Creating a Safe & Caring Work Environment