Workplace violence is a growing concern that affects organizations across every industry. In 2023, there were 5,283 fatal workplace injuries in the United States—740 of which were the result of violent acts, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace violence incidents range from verbal abuse and threats to physical assaults, and can come from employees, customers, visitors or even individuals with personal ties to employees. Workplace violence doesn’t just impact the direct victims; it also can have long-term effects on the safety culture and overall trust in an organization.
Prevention starts with preparation. Whether you manage a small team or lead a large organization, it is crucial to take proactive steps to identify risks and establish prevention plans. This list outlines practical workplace violence prevention strategies for any industry that you can take to reduce incidents in your work environment and create a supportive space for everyone who enters.
- Implement a Clear Workplace Violence Prevention Policy
The first step in actively preventing workplace violence is establishing and implementing a zero-tolerance policy. This should clearly define what constitutes workplace violence. As defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), “Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening behavior that occurs at the work site.” Expectations, reporting procedures and other processes should also be clearly outlined within the policy. These should include how to confidentially report incidents, how investigations are to be conducted and corrective actions that may follow. Setting and communicating these standards to all employees demonstrates an organization’s commitment to safety. More importantly, having a well-crafted and understood policy lays a strong foundation for all other prevention efforts.
- Conduct Proper Training Programs
While having policies in place is essential, they are ineffective if employees do not understand and can’t act on them. Having routine workplace violence training ensures that staff are aware of protocols in place and are equipped to recognize and help prevent potential threats. Comprehensive training should include how to identify warning signs, de-escalation techniques, and what to do in high-risk situations such as:
- Terminations or disciplinary actions
- Domestic disputes that enter the workplace
- Client confrontation
- Unauthorized attempts to access
- Reports of stalking or harassment
It is also important to include emergency response and active threat protocols, making sure employees feel ready for any crises that can arise. Scheduling frequent, mandatory training can create a culture of preparedness and a shared responsibility when it comes to everyone’s safety.
- Foster a Culture of Safety and Respect
One often overlooked strategy is fostering a culture of respect and safety to mitigate and prevent workplace violence. Encouraging mutual respect, civility and open communication helps reduce tension and interpersonal conflicts while also providing an overall sense of safety. When conflicts arise, as they are inevitable, it’s important to ensure they are fully resolved through mediation and appropriate follow-ups. By prioritizing an environment of accountability and empathy, organizations can mitigate the risk of escalation into anything more dangerous. Creating an environment where employees feel heard and respected can significantly reduce the risk of workplace violence.
- Encourage and Protect Reporting
In a culture that prioritizes safety, a clear and trusted reporting process plays a major role in workplace violence risk management. Employees must have accessible and confidential ways to report threats and safety concerns without fear of retaliation. Digital tools like mobile reporting platforms or internal apps can make the process easier and help increase report rates. Leadership should emphasize a “see something, say something” attitude to reinforce the importance of communication and building awareness. This mindset, coupled with ongoing training in how to identify warning signs and concerning behaviors, can help employees to recognize and report potential threats, which plays a key role in prevention and intervention. Since many workplace violence incidents stem from outside factors of an individual’s life, employees need to feel safe when sharing a concern—whether about themselves or someone else—and not fear consequences.
- Provide Access to Resources
While it is important to have reporting mechanisms in place, it is equally important to ensure your employees feel supported when seeking help. Programs like Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) offer mental health support and stress management through free and confidential resources. Providing accessible resources can help in the prevention of workplace violence by offering employees safe services and sensitive outlets to work through personal issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. These resources offer numerous benefits to employees and can be the difference between someone getting the help they need or reaching a breaking point that might be dangerous to more than just themselves.
- Integrate Behavioral Threat Assessment Practices
Organizations must be equipped to recognize and respond to early signs of potential violence, even with strong policies and employee resources in place. That’s where behavioral threat assessment comes in. This proactive approach involves identifying, evaluating, and addressing concerning behaviors before they escalate into threats. Establishing a committee and formal process ensures that behavioral cues are not dismissed or overlooked. Ideally a threat assessment team should be led by interdisciplinary personnel of various departments including human resources, leadership, security and legal. Behaviors such as sudden aggression, isolation, or fixation on violent themes should prompt careful review and, when appropriate, intervention to prevent the escalation of a risk into a threat.
- Leverage Environmental Design for Safety
According to OSHA, the physical surrounding environment plays a big role in the likelihood of workplace violence— especially in isolated or poorly lit areas. Strategic environmental design is essential in the prevention and deterrence of incidents. One effective approach is Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), which uses architectural design to reduce criminal acts. Factors such as timing and location also affect the probability of an incident occurring. Organizations with employees who work late hours or are located in vulnerable areas should ensure that entry points are secured, visible and well-lit. Simple solutions like removing visible obstructions, positioning workstations in higher-traffic areas, using access barriers and limiting access to authorized personnel only can reduce risk.
- Control and Monitor Visitor Access
Workplace violence incidents are not just limited to the people who spend time in an office setting; it can come from outside individuals such as clients, customers or even an employee’s personal connections. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 27% of workplace violence incidents involve domestic violence, where the perpetrator is a family member or intimate partner of an employee. Implementing visitor access controls through methods such as sign-in procedures, ID verification and access restrictions help mitigate this risk. Recorded video monitoring can enhance this measure by capturing real-time behavior and supporting investigation if an incident ever occurs. Visitor controls and monitoring adds another layer of protection and deterrence with increased visibility into who is accessing your workplace and when.
- Engage External Security or Law Enforcement Partners
Preventing workplace violence shouldn’t solely be the responsibility of employees. While prevention strategies begin in the office, some situations call for experience beyond what internal teams can provide. Having a physical security presence or collaborating with local law enforcement brings valuable external expertise. These partnerships can strengthen your organizations readiness as they can assist in threat assessments and emergency response planning. Establishing these relationships may boost employees’ general feeling of safety and confidence within the organization. Their involvement also creates a quicker response time in the event of an emergency.
- Regularly Review and Update Prevention Efforts
As workplace routines evolve, so do risks. Workplace violence prevention strategies and programs should never stay stagnant. It is important to constantly review and update prevention policies and training on a routine basis. Incorporate lessons learned from prior or outside incidents, industry standards, and employee feedback in new or revised policies. Ongoing refinement of these procedures strengthens the organization’s commitment to the safety of everyone in the workplace environment.
Workplace violence can happen in any industry, but risks can significantly be reduced with comprehensive strategies in place. Each method, from set policies and robust training to access controls and physical authoritative presence, adds layers of prevention that work together to create a safer environment for everyone in and out of your workspace.
When it comes to putting your safety plans into action, Protos is here to help. Whether you need on-site security guards, experienced law enforcement, or remote video monitoring, our teams deliver protection tailored to your needs.
