Violence Prevention Checklist

• Recognize the possibility that workplace violence can occur in your workplace.
• Review recruiting and hiring procedures institute criminal background checks, and carefully check all references and former employers.
• Check external and internal security.
• Where appropriate use a screening system.
• Determine if more stringent security measures are necessary.
• Provide external security to prohibit uncontrolled access throughout the company.
• Identify those members of management who may be likely targets and establish procedures to control access to them.
• Develop a relationship with local law enforcement officials.
• Take every known threat seriously. Follow up and investigate completely.
• Provide proper training for managers and supervisors in conflict resolution, identification of troubled employees and employee relations.
• Prohibit the possession of all weapons, either inside the workplace or transported in an employee's vehicle on company property.
• Provide safety/awareness training for employees.
• Consider adding a special telephone hotline number so that employees can report suspicious activities or concerns of potential violence, sabotage or other acts of wrongdoing.
• Coordinate planning efforts with the company's employee assistance program or consider identifying a qualified psychologist that management concerns regarding a particular employee can be addressed quickly and constructively.
• Attempt to develop a workplace environment that fosters trust among existing employees and management.
• Develop policies against all forms of violence including harassment and enforce them consistently and universally.
• Establish grievance procedures.
• Provide meaningful assistance for employees that lose their jobs.
• Establish exit interview procedures that collect company identification and alert management.
• Install routine security procedures when employees are fired.
• Emphasize humane and respectful treatment of all employees with particular emphasis on those who are terminated.
• Establish a crisis plan including a team trained to handle violent incidents and rumors of potential violence.