Workplace violence can be prevented with proper training.  Establishing protocols using the following guidelines, and providing all of your employees with the information they need, will go a long way toward saving lives. 

Develop a crisis plan to handle potential or actual threats.  To begin creating a plan within the company designed to deal with any potential threats, ask yourself what may be going on today, tomorrow or next week that could possibly expose the company to potential threats. What resources does the company have to deal with any threats?  What can the company expect from local emergency services should their assistance be needed?  In addition, identify exit routes to local roads, airports, hotels and hospitals.

Conduct thorough background checks of a suspected individual, including civil, criminal and marital status checks, in all geographic areas where the individual may have lived.

Assess vulnerabilities and potential risks within the company.  If the budget permits, you may want to have an outside organization conduct an assessment of the following things:

4       How are terminations handled?

4       Are terminated individuals escorted from the building?

4       Is the individual ever allowed to return to the building at a later time?

4       Is company security adequately briefed about terminations?

4       Are visitors to the company allowed to bring in packages? 

4       Are all packages and mail screened?

4       How is garbage disposed of?

4       Where is the smoking area, and is it secured?

4       What alarm system is available to the company?

4       How are appointments set?

Ensure proper coordination between every facet of the company.  It is important to make sure that every department within a company – Security, Maintenance, Public Relations, Human Resources, etc. – is kept informed about terminations, issues involving current employees and potential threats. If a threat is received, it should be reported to proper management immediately.

Take proper steps to improve company security.  This can include, but is not limited to, the following:

4       Provide protective services for company employees and surveillance of any potential attackers. 

4       Conduct routine security briefings with management and any employees at risk.  Relocate workstations of threatened employees and alter their work schedules. 

4       Seek a restraining order if necessary and provide a photo of any potential attacker to security and the receptionist. 

4       Place a silent alarm or camera near entrances or the threatened employees’ work area.

4       Consider providing a cell phone with preprogrammed numbers for emergency services to any at-risk employees. 

4       Control access to the building and provide the threatened individual with an escort to and from the building.