Workplace Violence Considerations for Safety

As society changes with the struggling economy, more and more people are losing jobs due to budgetary cutbacks. This problem is directly associated with workplace violence and it’s time for all of us to start thinking about our personal safety while at work.

Emergency response procedures are a vital element in protecting employees. As a veteran police officer, I have been personally involved in active shooter incidents, fire, assaults, and medical calls all occurring at commercial properties. Assuring your employer has an emergency action plan for commonly encountered incidents will no doubt save lives and prevent the incident from being worse. If your employer does not have a documented plan, develop one among your coworkers to include communication and keywords to discreetly identify trouble. Make frequent changes to passwords as employee rosters change with termination and attrition.

Proper placement of security cameras can prevent theft and be a major investigative tool in the event of a physical attack, particularly when they are placed frequently traveled areas or high occupancy around the office. Fake or dummy cameras have been known to be somewhat effective, however when it comes down to an incident actually occurring, they do not video the incident rendering them useless.

Making a small investment into your personal safety is always a good idea and considered as an insurance policy to good health. There are many personal defense weapons on the market that can be purchased for a reasonable amount of money. Some of these weapons include Tasers, Stun Guns, and Personal Defense Sprays. Another good self defense device to keep around the office is personal alarms. Audible personal alarms are capable of emitting a 120db tone to alert others of trouble or draw attention to you when confronted by threatening conditions. Personal defense weapons and tools have given people around the country the confidence to protect themselves when needed.

Every workplace has specific dangers within their own industry. The fact is, some industries are more susceptible to these events than others, although no industry is completely safe from violence. Having a solid action plan and the tools necessary to deploy it go a long way. Criminals prey on vulnerability and rely on all of us to be heavily involved in our work so we do not notice the signs of violence. A good action plan shows confidence and determination to survive which in turn deters crime.

Quality surveillance equipment is essential in fighting workplace violence. The days of the old affordable black and white VHS tapes are long gone and completely unreliable for investigative purposes. Quality digital video recording equipment is the last line of defense when it comes to identifying criminals. Remember that workplace safety extends beyond physical altercations, sexual harassment and other issues; the methods for addressing these should also be clearly outlined in the employee handbook too.

Criminal activities can take place anywhere and at any time, including offices and other commercial properties, homes, and outdoors. By keeping your personal safety in mind wherever you go, you can be prepared for these possibilities. Whether your office is protected by security guards or not, the personal safety of ever ne on its premises must be overseen by quality video recording equipment capable of identification in low light conditions.

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