Connecticut Business Risk Management: Workplace Violence 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 17% of all workplace fatalities are a result of workplace violence, higher than all other workplace casualty causes except transportation. Workplace safety awareness efforts regarding mechanical and hazardous substances have dramatically reduced the number of workplace accidents as shown in the statistical findings. As a result, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) recommends adding workplace violence and harassment training to your company’s work force safety and welfare program. They encourage businesses to implement this awareness training in conjunction with a strictly enforced zero tolerance policy for violence, bullying and harassment to protect their workers and themselves.

Understanding workplace violence:

• Workplace violence is defined by the OSHA as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site.
• The scope of workplace violence ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults, including homicide.
• It can affect and involve anyone in connection with your business including employees, clients, customers and visitors.
• Workplace violence is a form of workplace harassment.
• Violence can even be the unintentional result of harassment. Hazing, for example, is a form of both harassment and violence which can lead to big problems for employers.

Understanding workplace harassment?

• Workplace harassment is the unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of an individual either preformed repeatedly or severely.
• Harassment goes far beyond the stereotypical sexual connotation. While sexual harassment is responsible for number of workplace harassment claims, other forms of aggravation including bullying and hazing account for a large majority as well.
• Workplace harassment can include physical contact, joking and innuendos, flirting, use of slurs or slang, physical gestures and much more, thus professional workplace should be enforced by any business management and policy structure.

Awareness is the key to prevention. Employee harassment and violence recognition training can help deflate an escalating situation, prevent these types of occurrences and save your company detrimental stress and expenses. Some businesses are at greater risk than others to report instances of workplace violence, but all industries are susceptible to harassment. Thus harassment and bullying prevention training is vital to any Connecticut business risk management plan.

At Sinclair Risk & Financial Management we offer a wide variety of business services to help your institution succeed. Our Risk Management specialists preform HR Audits to expose risks that could lead to unwanted workforce liability. We can then work with your organization on Employee Handbook Development to yield policies that will protect your whole business. Get more information about all the business services we offer by calling (877) 602-2305 today.