Workplace Violence: Using Security Technology to Reduce Risk

According to a recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), approximately 1 out of 7 Americans do not feel safe at work, and nearly a quarter of employees polled said they had experienced an incident of workplace violence.  Workplace violence falls into four categories:  criminal intent, customer/client, worker-on-worker, and personal relationship (CDC, https://wwwn.cdc.gov).  Some environments are particularly vulnerable – the healthcare and social assistance industries comprise 73% of reported workplace violence incidences (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018).  Other business categories such as retail spaces, gas stations, and restaurants may find themselves increasing vulnerable as a result of new policies and practices adopted to combat the COVID-19 pandemic - requiring masks, asking customers to follow social distancing rules, and setting limits on the number of customers allowed in a facility at one time. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/business-employers/limit-workplace-violence.html).  Add in the indisputable fact that U.S. adults are suffering financial, employment, and mental stress related to the pandemic, with over 30% of adults experiencing economic hardship this year, and the need for vigilance in the workplace may be higher than ever.  (https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200806/covid-19-causing-more-stress-in-america-than-other-nations-survey#1)

The goal to reducing risk is to make your workplace a difficult target for violence and if it does happen, be prepared to react quickly.  The Occupational Safety and Health Administration(OSHA) offers (5) building blocks (https://www.osha.gov/Publications/osha3148.pdf) for developing a workplace violence protection program which includes:

·       Management commitment and worker participation

·       Worksite analysis and hazard identification

·       Hazard prevention and control

·       Safety and health training

·       Recordkeeping and program evaluation

Security technology solutions can play a key role in providing hazard prevention and control, including both engineering controls and administrative controls. 

Engineering Controls - physical interventions that create a barrier between employees and dangerous individuals, such as locks, metal detectors, panic buttons, and mobile devices equipped with duress communications.  Did you know these devices could allow for quick action such as:

·       Locking down areas, or even entire facility, and alerting first responders

·       Initiating emergency notifications via text or audible siren to all users’ devices

·       Helping achieve situational awareness by using rule-based alerts to trigger actions for suspicious behavior, security threats, or emergencies

Administrative Controls - changes to work practices and administrative procedures that can help prevent violent incidences.  Technology tools can provide a whole gamut of security screenings such as:

·        Create watchlists of known perpetrators and integrate into a visitor management system; a quick swipe of an ID will screen, check-in, badge, or even turn away

·       Analyze perimeter camera feeds through facial-recognition and alert security personnel, point of entry staff, or even local police of unwanted visitors or unauthorized entry

In summary, workplace violence has long been a concern of employers, and the stressors of 2020 may make the risk of violence even greater.  Smart businesses can use existing technology (cameras, access control) or add additional technology to provide security measures to keep their staff and visitors safe.