WORKPLACE ANTIVIOLENCE POLICIES: Seven Necessary Elements of an Effective Program

An antiviolence policy should do the following: 1) Recognize violence as an OSH risk. 2) Clearly define and describe the threatening behaviors that are not tolerated, including fighting, pushing and unwanted physical contact. 3) Include a reporting procedure to ensure the effectiveness of the policy. 4) Outline the consequences of violent behavior, including what leads to termination. 5) Incorporate a clear strategy for making all employees familiar with the policy. 6) Establish an assessment team that is responsible for investigating any reports of violence or threats of violence. 7) Identify resources for workers who are victims of violence to have access to critical incident stress debriefing services. PSJ Gary Sheely is an associate of the Safety Institute (http://safetyinstitute.com) and a tactical confrontation specialist focusing on workplace violence issues. Sheely conducts training workshops and has been a keynote speaker at events across the U.S. He can be reached at info@safetyinstitute.com.