Workplace Violence Prevention

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Workplace Violence Prevention The NYS WPV Act

• J. Brett Carruthers, CSP
• Manager, Risk Services
• New York Municipal Insurance Reciprocal
• bcarruthers_at_wrightinsurance.com
• 716.282.4890

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What is Workplace Violence?

• Workplace violence is any physical assault,
  threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring
  in the workplace
• This includes, but is not limited to, municipal
  buildings and the surrounding perimeters,
  including the parking lots, field locations,
  clients homes and traveling to and from work
  assignments

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Workplace Violence Includes

• Beatings
• Stabbings
• Suicides
• Shootings
• Rapes
• Near-suicides
• Psychological traumas

• Threats or obscene phone calls
• Intimidation
• Harassment of any nature
• Being followed, sworn or shouted at

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Did You Know?

• Supervisors or domestic partners are typically
  the victims of workplace violence.
• Each week, an average of 20 people are murdered
  over 28,800 are assaulted at work in the United
  States.

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EXAMPLES

• Verbal threats to inflict bodily harm
• Vague or Covert Threats
• Attempting to cause physical harm
• Striking, Pushing and other Aggressive Physical
  Acts against another person

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TYPES OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

• Violence by Strangers
• Violence by Customers or Clients
• Violence by Co-Workers
• Violence by Relatives

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EXTENT OF PROBLEM

• We live in an increasingly violent culture
• Job-related homicides were the third leading
  cause of death for all workers.
• The 1 cause of occupational death for female
  workers.
• The 2 cause of occupational death for male
  workers.

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ECONOMIC IMPACT

• 1.1 Million Lost Work Days
• 55 Million Lost Wages
• Lost Productivity
• Legal Expenses
• Property Damage,
• Public Relations
• Increased Security

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Risk Factors for Violent Behavior

• Cruelty to Animals
• High Risk Behavior(s)
• Destruction of Property
• Substance Abuse
• Socially Isolated

• Bullying
• History of Victimization
• History of Violence
• Recent Experience of Loss, Shame or Humiliation

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What is the NYS Workplace Violence Prevention Act?

• On June 7, 2006 New York State passed
  legislation, Article 27-b of the Labor Law, that
  requires public employers to perform a workplace
  evaluation or risk assessment at each worksite
  and to develop and implement programs to prevent
  and minimize workplace violence.

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WPV Program Requirements

• Effective March 4, 2007
• Risk Evaluation Determination
• Written Workplace Violence Prevention Program
• Employee Information
• Employee Training

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What is a Risk Evaluation?

• A Risk Evaluation is an inspection or
• examination of the workplace to find
• existing or potential hazards (Risk
• Factors) for workplace violence

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RISK EVALUATION ELEMENTS

• History of Past Incidents
• PESH SH900 Injury and Illness Log
• Employee Survey
• Physical Workplace Security Building Surveys

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RISK FACTORS

• Contact with the public
• Working late night or early morning
• Exchanging money with the public
• Working alone or in small numbers

• Uncontrolled access to the workplace
• Having a dynamic workplace such as law
  enforcement, public health, mental health or
  social service employees

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Written Workplace Violence Program Components

• Board Adopted Policy Statement (20 Employees)
• Discussion of Workplace Risk Factors
• Discussion of Workplace Violence Mitigation
  Methods
• Workplace Violence Reporting Form and Procedure

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Policy Statement

• Signed by the Board
• Management Commitment
• Employee Involvement

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EMPLOYEE INFORMATION

• Requirement of the WPV Prevention Program
• Risk Factors in their workplaces
• Location and availability of the written WPV
  Prevention Program

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EMPLOYEE TRAINING

• Initially or Upon Assignment and Annually
  Thereafter
• Review of the WPV Prevention Program
• The importance of preparation in preventing
  violence

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Employee Training Education

• The Act Itself
• Your Workplace Violence Program
• Risk Factors Identified

• Location of Written Report
• Protective Measures
• Employer-initiated Protective Measures

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HAZARD CONTROL METHODS

• Make high risk areas more visible
• Install appropriate perimeter lighting
• Use drop safes
• Decrease cash on hand

• Change Deposit Times and Routes
• Post signs stating limited cash
• Train employees in conflict resolution skills

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ENGINEERING CONTROLS

• Visibility and Lighting
• Landscaping
• Higher Counters
• Video Surveillance

• Height Markers
• Door Intercoms
• Alarms
• Panic Buttons
• Bullet Resistant Barriers

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Administrative and Work Practice Controls

• Develop Procedures for Opening and Closing
• Limit Access to Remote Doors
• Adopt Procedures for off-site work
• Evaluate Staffing Needs for High Risk
  Locations/Times
• Working Relationship With Law Enforcement

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WPV Incident Reporting Procedure

• All Incidents of Workplace Violence Must Be
  Reported
• Need to Determine who will be notified and
  whether law enforcement needs to be involved.
• Initial Reports may be made orally, then followed
  up with written report on Workplace Violence
  Reporting Form

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Barriers to Reporting

• That kind of thing doesnt happen here.
• They wont come after me.
• I cant report this hell come after me.
• I dont want to get anyone into trouble.
• When something happens people will know how
  to react.
• People just snap!

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Incident Reporting Procedures

• To be completed by appropriate Supervisor
• Reviewed with Employees
• Investigation completed
• Confidentiality stressed
• Retaliation stressed

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Crisis Counseling Services

• Can usually be arranged via the Municipalitys
  Employee Assistance Program at no additional
  charge.
• Need to determine when these services will be
  activated.

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Crisis Counseling Services Activation Example

• Crisis Counseling will be provided after there
  have been workplace violence incidents involving
• Serious Physical Harm to 1 or more employees
• A Hostage Situation involving 1 or more employees
• An Employee Death

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Additional Resources

• NYS DOL Safety and Health Website
• http//www.labor.state.ny.us/workerprotection/safe
  tyhealth/DOSH_INDEX.shtm
• NIOSH
• http//www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumaviolence.ht
  ml
• FBI
• http//www.fbi.gov/publications/violence.pdf

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IN SUMMARY

• Risk Evaluation
• WPVPP (gt 20 employees, must be written)
• List of Risk Factors
• Control Methods
• Information and Training
• Initial Assignment
• Annually Thereafter

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QUESTIONS