Violence in the workplace

By: Héctor R. Torres, PHD, CPP, CFE, CHS*

A fraternal greeting from Puerto Rico to all colleagues and readers of this column! It is a pleasure to share again with you.

In today's column we will talk about a growing phenomenon that represents another security threat to any type of organization.  I am referring to violence in the workplace. The usual approach for security professionals in organizations is to identify and prevent vulnerabilities and risks associated with external threats. But you have to ask yourself, how do we deal with the organization's internal threats? We can operationally define an internal threat as that threat that develops internally and presents an eminent risk to the operations of the organization. An example of this type of threat is that of violence in the workplace.

What is violence in the workplace?
Before entering fully into the subject, we must first make the definitions of rigor. Violence in the workplace is defined as violence or the threat of violence to workers in a company. It can occur inside or outside the company and can escalate from a verbal threat to a physical attack culminating in a homicide. Violence in the workplace is one of the leading causes of death in organizations. No matter how it manifests itself, violence in the workplace is a matter of great concern for both management and employees of a company.

Who is vulnerable?
Using statistics from the United States of America we can see that more than 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence each year. It can happen in any type of company or organization and no one is immune to this threat. Some workers are more susceptible than others. Analyzing the occurrence data we find that managers and supervisors; those working in financial institutions; taxi drivers and truck drivers; those who work in small groups especially at night or during the early morning hours;  those who work directly with the public; and those working in high-crime areas are at greater risk.

What should organizations do to protect their employees? The greatest protection that organizations and companies can offer their employees is to establish a zero-tolerance internal policy towards violence in the workplace by employees or people outside the organization. Organizations should also establish a prevention program and incorporate such a program into the company's operational instructions as well as the company's employee handbook.

It is imperative that all employees understand the established policy and that all information about acts of violence will be immediately investigated with a firm resolution. In addition and as part of the prevention programme, training on the prevention of violence in the workplace should be offered. The human resources department in coordination with the company's security department must join forces to prepare and carry out the trainings. In addition, the security department has a great responsibility to protect employees using physical security measures such as barriers, access control, cameras, alarm systems, security guards, and id cards.

How can employees protect themselves?
No single program can effectively prevent violence in the workplace. The company's employees play an important role in its prevention. Some prevention measures that employees can use include knowing how to recognize, prevent and deter potential acts of violence and alert management to any concerns about workplace safety as well as reporting any incidents of violence immediately.

Based on the above, we conclude that in the face of the threat posed by violence in the workplace, we must be very proactive in its prevention. The responsibility to prevent acts of violence is the responsibility of everyone in a company.

I invite you to continue to share your ideas and concerns from the world and security management. A hug and see you next time!!

*If you wish you can write to the author of this article at the email [email protected]