Compliant with All Federal and State Laws and Regulations

Elements of A Workplace Violence Prevention Program

While the elements vary somewhat by state and industry, various laws and regulations generally require workplace violence prevention programs to include the following elements.

• 1. Written Policy
  • Include “assignment of oversight and prevention responsibilities”
  • Cover everyone in the workplace
  • Include ”threats”
  • Detail reporting procedures
  • Address Behavior outside of work
  • Ensure addresses domestic violence that may spill into the workplace
  • Include anti-retaliation provisions
• 2. Workplace Violence Hazard Assessment and Security Analysis
  • Must include employee participation in the process of identifying hazards and mitigating risks
  • In the written analysis, you must include “a list of the risk factors identified in the assessment and how the employer will address the specific hazards identified.”
• 3. Implementation of Controls
  • Implement controls to eliminate or reduce the identified hazards
  • Can include engineering or administrative controls
• 4. Reporting Procedures
  • Set up system for reporting concerns or “red flag” behavior
  • Consider allowing anonymous reporting
• 5. Record-Keeping
  • Required logs of work-related injuries and illnesses from the past five years (OSHA Form 300)
  • Worker’s Compensation records
  • Training records
  • Safety committee minutes
  • The identification and correction of recognized hazards
  • Other records required by OSHA and state-law requirements
• 6. Establishment of Threat Assessment Team
  • Determine who will assess “red flag” behaviors of violence and steps that will be taken
  • Utilize FBI threat assessment questions
  • Consult the Department of Homeland Security’s “Indicators of Potential Violence by an Employee”
• 7. Response Procedures and Team
  • Develop “procedures and responsibilities to be taken in the event of a violent incident in the workplace.”
  • Develop a response team responsible for immediate care of victims and providing debriefing sessions with victims and coworkers.
• 8. Employee Training
  • Ensure covers required topics under OSHA guidance and state laws and regulations
  • Address workplace violence prevention and active shooter response topics
  • Train upon hire and annually thereafter