Potential Signs Of Workplace Violence

Verbal, Physical Abuse Are Common Factors

DETROIT, Updated 4:42 p.m. EST December 26, 2000 -- In an average week in the United States, 20 people are killed and 18,000 assaulted -- while they're at work, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Murder is the second leading cause of death in the workplace in the United States, according to the Occupational Safety & Health Administration.

The vast majority of those deaths are not caused by employees or former employees, according to a 1993 U.S. Department of Justice study. It found that of the 1,063 workplace homicides that year, only 59 were by co-workers or former employees.

While that's not a vast majority, it's not zero either.

Even if you're not a direct victim of workplace violence, secondary effects, such as psychological damage, can linger with you.

When dealing with a potentially violent person at work, it is important to remember that there is no one deciding factor as to whether a person will turn violent or what might set them off.

In many cases, you may not know what potential warning signs are, or you may blow them off, as in "that's just how he or she is" or you may feel that it is none of your business.

However, one should at least be aware of factors which could be warning signs of potential danger.

POTENTIAL WARNING SIGNS

According to the federal Department of Health and Human Services, early warning signs include the person:

• Refusing to cooperate with immediate supervisor
• Spreading rumors and gossip to harm others
• Consistently arguing with co-workers
• Acting belligerently toward customers or clients
• Constantly swearing at others
• Making unwanted sexual comments

The situation may be escalating if the person:

• Argues increasingly with customers, vendors, co-workers and management
• Refuses to obey company policies and procedures
• Sabotages equipment and steals property for revenge
• Verbalizes wishes to hurt co-workers and/or management
• Sends sexual or violent notes to co-workers and/or management
• Sees themselves as victimized by management (me against them)

The situation may require an emergency response if the person frequently displays intense anger resulting in:

• Recurrent suicidal threats
• Recurrent physical fights
• Destruction of property
• Utilization of weapons to harm others
• Commission of murder, rape and/or arson

Certain types of job performance problems may also be warning signs of potential trouble. Violence may be on the horizon, according to HHS, if a pattern of these occurs or if they represent a change from normal behavior:

• Attendance problems: falling within this category are excessive sick leave, excessive tardiness, leaving work early, improbable excuses for absences, higher than average absenteeism rate, on-the-job accidents
• Impact on supervisor's/manager's time: supervisor is spending an inordinate amount of time coaching or counseling the individual concerning personal problems, re-doing the employee's work, or dealing with co-worker concerns
• Decreased productivity: making excessive mistakes, poor judgment, missed deadlines, wasting work time and materials
• Inconsistent work patterns: alternating periods of high and low productivity and quality of work inappropriate reactions: overreaction to criticism, mood swings
• Concentration problems: usually distracted and often has trouble recalling instructions, project details, and deadline requirements
• Safety issues: more accident prone, disregard for personal safety as well as equipment and machinery safety, needless risks
• Poor health and hygiene: marked changes in personal grooming habits
• Unusual/changed behavior
• Evidence of possible drug or alcohol use/abuse: often the same indicators discussed in this section
• Evidence of serious stress in the employee's personal life: crying, excessive phone calls, recent separation, death of a loved one
• Continual excuses/blame: inability to accept responsibility for even the most inconsequential errors
• Unshakable depression: low energy, little enthusiasm, despair

OTHER RESOURCES

For more information on workplace violence, check with one of the following organizations:

American Psychiatric Association
Division of Public Affairs
1400 K Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 682-6000

American Psychological Association
1200 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 955-7600
For book/pamphlet orders: (800) 374-2721

Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, SC 29425
(803) 792-2945

Harvard University
School of Public Health
Violence Prevention Program
677 Huntington Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02115
(617) 432-0814

National Crime Prevention Council
1700 K Street, N.W., Suite 618
Washington, DC 20006
(202) 466-6272

Office for Victims of Crime
633 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Room 1342
Washington, DC 20024
(202) 307-0774

Workplace Violence Research Institute
160 Newport Center Drive, Suite 210
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6910
(714) 720-0854

American Society for Industrial Security
1655 N. Fort Myer Drive
Suite 1200
Arlington, VA 22209
(703) 522-5800

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