Implementing a Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

As a business, you have several different priorities that you need to focus on daily. Things such as operations and manufacturing play a key role in your company’s success. However, some things are even more important than ensuring your workplace stays on-task. Workplace violence is a real and serious incident that can happen within your company’s walls. The best way to combat that is to have a workplace violence prevention plan in place. If you don’t already have a concrete plan, here are a few things to consider when preparing for such a serious event.

Violence in the Workplace

You always think it can’t possibly happen at my company until it does.

The United States Department of Labor dedicates time and resources to raising awareness of how severe workplace violence can become.

In fact, a 2017 CFOI study showed that of the 5,147 fatal workplace injuries that took place, 458 of them were from intended injuries by someone else.

Many workers become victims of workplace violence every calendar year. If it’s not stopped, there are often repeat offenders until drastic steps are taken. That’s why it’s so important to have workplace violence prevention in place to keep your workforce safe. Not to mention that your organization may be penalized by the OSHA, which has been increasing financial penalties steadily since 2019. The best way to stop it from happening in your office(s) is to raise awareness among your employees and establish a zero-tolerance policy.

What Your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan Should Include

No one knows your company better than you do. You know the people, the business model, and the industry. So here are a few things to consider including in your plan:

A Plan for Offsite Employee Productivity

Depending on the incident that takes place and its severity, the conditions of your current workplace may not be suitable to conduct business.

More than that, your entire workforce may need a break from being in that office for a while afterward. However, the show must go on… and you need to ensure your employees can still work while you’re offsite.

Many companies tell their employees to work from home, but that isn’t necessarily an effective strategy. Instead, try looking into things like relocating to a temporary office location for the time being. That will keep your productivity on par and give you time to strategize for the future.

Incorporate SaaS Technology in Your Business Model

Moving to a different office location won’t do your employees a ton of good if all their projects and data are stuck on the devices at the previous office.

That’s why installing a Software as a Service (SaaS) method into your business model is crucial. 

For example, using a customer relationship management system in a SaaS format means you and your employees will have access to it anywhere you go. All of your company’s essentials will be saved and run on the cloud.

It’s easy to use, can be accessed at any time of the day or night, and is easily scalable throughout all departments in your business model.

Safety Training

One of the key elements of managing risk is a successful training course. These courses not only need the quality but the quantity that’s necessary to drive the point home among your entire staff. This can be done in many ways. Testing in the form of safety drills and tabletop exercises, educational statistics, real-life examples, and bringing in a speaker (such as an OSHA representative) can add value to your training.

Just as important as the training course is implementing a successful tabletop exercise. There, you can gauge how well your training was received, what needs to be worked on, and identify any gaps in the organization.

Raising awareness among your employees will help them realize the seriousness of the situation. It will not only help them from getting involved in such an incident but report one if they see it.

Create an Emergency Plan

Sometimes, all the training and education in the world aren’t enough. Your workplace is still at risk of situations where passion takes over, and your employees aren’t thinking straight.

When emotions are high, you’ll be glad that you included an emergency plan. A successful one includes what actions you need to take during and after the incident is seen/reported, reaching out to your insurance, and a business continuity plan.

The insurance will cover all your financial losses while you and your company work with local authorities on the rest. Several companies worldwide make the mistake of never incorporating a business continuity plan. Not doing so will put your entire company and its future at risk if workplace violence ever occurs under your roof.

Install a Proper Workplace Violence Prevention Plan in Place Today

It’s time for you to take action. Set yourself up with a workplace violence prevention plan to give yourself peace of mind that you have a plan in place. Be sure to read this article on the three steps to a business continuity plan for more information on responding to risk.