Workplace violence is an escalating concern that affects organizations across all industries. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), nearly two million American workers report being victims of workplace violence annually, and many more incidents go unreported. From verbal threats to physical attacks, workplace violence can disrupt operations, damage morale and expose companies to legal and financial risks.
At Protos Security, we believe that prevention starts with preparation. In this article, we explore actionable workplace violence prevention strategies, training approaches and risk management frameworks to help organizations create safer, more resilient environments for employees, clients and visitors. Workplace violence affects every industry – from corporate offices to retail stores and logistics hubs. The impact extends beyond individual harm to include operational disruption, employee turnover, reputational damage and legal risk.
Understanding Workplace Violence
Workplace violence refers to any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the workplace. It ranges from verbal abuse and bullying to physical assaults and even homicide. This issue affects all industries and occupations and can have significant consequences for employee safety, morale and business continuity.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) categorizes workplace violence into four types:
- Criminal Intent: In these cases, the perpetrator has no legitimate relationship to the business or its employees, such as a robbery or trespassing incident. Mitigation strategies often focus on physical security measures, including access control systems, surveillance cameras, security personnel and lighting. Businesses may also implement environmental design principles to deter unauthorized individuals from entering the premises.
- Customer/Client: When the perpetrator is a customer or client, common in healthcare, public service, or retail settings, interventions should include de-escalation training for employees, clear incident reporting protocols and customer interaction policies. Staff should be trained to recognize warning signs and manage volatile interactions calmly and safely.
- Worker-on-Worker: These incidents involve current or former employees and often stem from interpersonal conflict or unresolved grievances. Prevention efforts focus on organizational culture, including conflict resolution mechanisms, zero-tolerance policies, anonymous reporting systems and employee assistance programs (EAPs) that support mental health and stress management.
- Personal Relationship: Violence stemming from a personal relationship, such as domestic violence entering the workplace, demands a more individualized approach. Risk management might involve privacy-protected reporting channels, workplace safety planning for at-risk employees, restraining order enforcement and collaboration with local law enforcement. Employers may also offer counseling services and leave accommodations to support affected staff.
The Importance of Workplace Violence Prevention Training
Effective training is a cornerstone of workplace violence prevention, as it equips employees with the knowledge to recognize warning signs, de-escalate potential conflicts and respond appropriately to incidents.
Why It Matters: Training by the Numbers
Statistics underscore the need for such training:
- According to OSHA, workplace violence is the third leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the United States. In 2023, there were 740 fatalities due to violent acts, with homicides accounting for 62% of these incidents.
- In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that around 20,050 workers in the private sector experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence, requiring them to take time off work.
- Homicides in the workplace serve as a reminder of the dangers employees can face while on the job. Between 1992 and 2019, more than 17,000 workplace homicides were recorded in the United States, with approximately 79% involving firearms.
- A 2019 survey found that approximately 94% of U.S. workers have been bullied at work, up from 75% in 2008. Of the 94% of employees who claimed to have been bullied at work, 51% of them said the bullying was done by a boss or manager.
Regular training sessions, including scenario-based exercises and clear reporting procedures, can significantly reduce the risk of workplace violence.
Implementing Effective Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies
Dan Acker, Senior Director of Service Operations at Protos, believes that having a plan in place ahead of time is critical to protecting people, maintaining operations and making smart, risk-informed decisions. He recommends creating a prevention plan that includes the following strategies:
- Develop a Clear Policy
A well-defined, zero-tolerance workplace violence policy is more than a formality, it sets clear expectations for behavior and consequences. By explicitly defining unacceptable behaviors such as verbal threats, physical aggression or harassment, employees and supervisors are better equipped to recognize and respond to early warning signs.
Why it matters: Without a clear policy, employees may downplay or ignore incidents until they escalate. A transparent policy fosters a culture of accountability and safety.
Example: A retail chain that experienced rising instances of customer aggression implemented a revised violence prevention policy and saw a significant increase in reported incidents. Not because violence increased, but because employees felt empowered to speak up.
- Conduct Regular Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are not one-time tasks. They’re dynamic evaluations that must evolve with your workplace. This involves analyzing the physical environment, operational factors and historical data.
How it helps: Understanding your unique risk landscape allows you to tailor prevention strategies, allocate resources effectively and evaluate security investments.
Example: A healthcare facility identified that most violent incidents occurred during patient intake. As a result, they reconfigured the intake area with secured barriers and increased staff presence during peak hours.
- Enhance Security Measures
Implement security controls such as surveillance cameras, access control measures and alarm systems. In high-risk areas, consider employing security personnel such as security guards or off-duty law enforcement to deter potential threats.
Why it works: The presence of security personnel not only discourages perpetrators but also enables faster intervention if an incident occurs. Knowing that areas are monitored and guarded increases the perceived risk for anyone contemplating violence, while also reassuring employees and visitors that their safety is a priority.
Example: A hospital emergency department installed controlled entry points with badge access and placed uniformed security officers near waiting areas. Within six months, the facility saw a measurable decrease in both verbal altercations and physical incidents, along with an increase in staff-reported feelings of safety on the job.
- Foster a Supportive Work Environment
Creating an environment where employees feel psychologically safe to share concerns is a powerful deterrent against violence. This includes training managers to recognize signs of distress, promoting mental wellness and offering Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) that provide confidential counseling and support services.
Why it’s critical: Many worker-on-worker or personal relationship incidents escalate due to unresolved interpersonal conflict or unaddressed mental health challenges. Supportive environments help identify and defuse these issues early.
Example: An office introduced peer mediation and mental health days. Over an extended period of time, HR saw a notable drop in interpersonal complaints and sick leave usage linked to stress.
- Establish Incident Response Plans
Every organization should have a detailed, regularly updated response plan for various violent scenarios, including active shooters, physical fights or threats. These plans should be clearly communicated to all employees and include evacuation or lockdown procedures, and be reinforced with regular training and scenario-based drills.
How it saves lives: Clear protocols and training empower employees to respond quickly and confidently, potentially reducing harm and chaos.
Example: A community office that conducted quarterly active shooter drills reported that, during a real lockdown triggered by an external threat, employees responded calmly and efficiently, avoiding panic and injuries.
Industry-Specific Considerations
Workplace violence can vary significantly by industry. For example, frontline staff in hospitals are often exposed to emotionally charged environments, making verbal abuse and physical altercations more common. These settings benefit from de-escalation training and panic alert systems within the facility.
Retail environments are open to the public, making it difficult to control who enters the space. Training employees to calmly manage aggressive customers, combined with visible security presence, reduces risk. Manufacturing and industrial sites, on the other hand, may face threats from internal conflicts among shift workers or from external intruders targeting valuable materials or equipment. These sites benefit from robust perimeter control, restricted access areas and mobile patrols.
Protos offers tailored security strategies for each of these environments, ensuring that clients have the right mix of security personnel, procedures and technology in place.
Healthcare and Hospitals
Healthcare and hospital centers face one of the highest risks of workplace violence across all industries. According to OSHA, they are five times more likely to experience such incidents compared to workers in other fields. The risk stems largely from frequent, emotionally charged interactions with patients and their families, many of whom may be under stress, in pain or suffering from cognitive or behavioral health issues. These situations can escalate quickly into verbal abuse or even physical altercations.
Hotels & Hospitality
The hospitality industry faces a unique combination of security challenges. Hotels, resorts and entertainment venues operate with a high volume of foot traffic, late-night operations and frequent alcohol consumption. The combination of these conditions can create volatile situations. Front desk staff, housekeeping teams and event personnel are often exposed to aggressive guests or unexpected confrontations. Prevention in these settings should focus on staff training for conflict resolution, real-time access control and visible yet unobtrusive security personnel who can quickly intervene.
Distribution & Logistics
Distribution centers and logistics operations involve large, often remote facilities with long work hours and physically demanding tasks. Employees may work overnight shifts, in isolated zones, or with limited supervision, all of which contribute to increased exposure to workplace violence. Additionally, high turnover, labor shortages and deadline pressure can intensify interpersonal tensions. These facilities benefit from perimeter security, internal access controls, mobile patrols and strategically placed video surveillance systems.
Retail
Retail settings face frequent customer interactions and high employee turnover. Staff must be trained in managing aggressive customers and reporting threats immediately. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, retail workers experience approximately 25% of all workplace violence incidents reported in the private sector. These encounters often stem from theft, confrontational customer interactions, or attempted robberies, putting employees at frequent risk on the front lines of the consumer experience.
Manufacturing & Industrial
The manufacturing and industrial industry faces a unique set of workplace violence risks tied to its operational complexity, workforce diversity and physical environment. These settings often involve large facilities, rotating shifts, high-pressure production timelines and the use of heavy machinery, all of which can contribute to heightened stress and tension among employees. These environments also frequently have minimal public visibility, which can delay intervention or detection when incidents do occur.
Keeping Prevention Strategies Up to Date
Workplace violence prevention strategies should not be static. Regular reviews should be done at least once a year to ensure plans remain relevant and effective. This includes updating policies, refining training modules and reviewing incident data for patterns or new risks. Changes in the workforce, work environment or industry trends can all affect your exposure to workplace violence.
Staying Informed and Compliant
Workplace violence prevention isn’t just best practice, it’s a matter of compliance and due diligence. To remain effective, your organization’s strategy must evolve in tandem with changing regulations and emerging threats.
Staying informed about developments like these ensures that your prevention strategy remains not only compliant, but also effective and future-ready. Regularly reviewing resources, updating trainingand adapting to new policies can make a significant difference in maintaining a safe and resilient workplace.
Creating a Culture of Safety
A prevention strategy only works when it’s embraced at every level within an organization. Leadership should consistently reinforce the message that safety is everyone’s responsibility and that reporting concerns is not only acceptable but expected.
Dan adds, “The most overlooked part of workplace violence prevention is culture. Empowering employees to recognize warning signs, speak up and trust that leadership will act without judgment or retaliation is so important.”
Leadership should encourage employees with:
- Regular reminders of policies and procedures
- Ongoing education around threat identification
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) for mental health and crisis support
Partner With Protos to Strengthen Your Prevention Strategy
Preventing workplace violence requires a proactive and comprehensive approach, encompassing clear policies, effective training, supportive leadership and industry-specific strategies. By prioritizing employee safety and fostering a culture of respect and vigilance, organizations can create a secure work environment conducive to productivity and well-being.
