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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