601 Essentials of Occupational Safety and Health

Written Policies

In most workplaces where risk factors can be identified, the risk of assault can be prevented or minimized if employers implement effective policies.

A violence prevention policy statement is a guide established to provide direction in decision making. It reflects management goals and objectives related to violence prevention within the company. In terms of structure, an effective violence prevention policy statement is informational and directive. It gives managers, supervisors, and employees adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to mitigate and prevent violence in the workplace.

It is critical to ensure that all workers know the policy and understand that all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and remedied promptly. In addition, OSHA encourages employers to develop additional methods as necessary to protect employees in high risk industries.

Although company programs can also be implemented without a written policy statement, employers have an inherent right and responsibility to take action against employees who engage in disruptive or threatening behavior whether or not they have issued a written policy statement.

A workplace violence policy statement should convey that:

• All employees are responsible for maintaining a safe and healthful work environment;
• The policy covers not only acts of physical violence, but harassment, intimidation, and other disruptive behavior;
• The policy covers incidents involving all interactions between:
• supervisor to employee;
• employee to employee;
• employee to supervisor;
• employee to non-employee; and
• non-employee to employee;
• The company will respond appropriately to all reported incidents;
• The company will act to stop an inappropriate behavior; and
• Supervisors and all of the departments involved in responding to incidents will be supported by company management in their efforts to deal with violent and potentially violent situations.

For a more complete discussion of this topic, see OSHAcademy Course 720, Preventing Workplace Violence, and NIOSH.

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