Signs of potential workplace violence
Signs of potential workplace violence
Although there is no single profile of an individual prone to violence, the presence of some common risk factors could signal a potential problem. These include:• a fascination with weapons;
• a life-changing event such as divorce, loss of job, death of a spouse or child, or a personal illness;
• poor work record that includes an inability to work with others;
• inability to cope with work stress;
• downsized, laid-off, or fired employees;
• any employee who works in areas that have a real or perceived staffing shortage;
• employees who have had a salary reduction or a position downgrade;
• history of being outspoken and difficult to handle;
• history of substance abuse;
• employees who have made threats in the past.
In addition to the above personal factors, certain aspects of the health care facility have the potential for high-risk. These include:
• proximity of the organization to high-crime areas;
• nature of service being provided, such as emergency services, which may present the opportunity for crisis situations;
• secluded work areas, such as the morgue;
• areas that handle and deposit cash, such as the cashier’s office or gift shop;
• departments such as respiratory care with one or two employees on the third shift;
• parking lots.
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