In this weeks safety session: How you can be aware of behavior that may indicate the potential for workplace violence.

Workplace Violence:

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workplace violence falls into four categories: Criminal intent, customer/client, worker-on-worker and personal relationship, which overwhelmingly targets women.

Know the warning signs

Some people commit violence because of revenge, robbery or ideology – with or without a component of mental illness. While there is no way to predict an attack, you can be aware of behaviors in coworkers that might signal future violence:

·         Excessive use of alcohol or drugs

·         Unexplained absenteeism, change in behavior or decline in job performance

·         Depression, withdrawal or suicidal comments

·         Resistance to changes at work or persistent complaining about unfair treatment

·         Violation of company policies

·         Emotional responses to criticism, mood swings

·         Paranoia

Most every “place” is somebody’s workplace. So whether you are a patron or an employee, it’s important to be alert.

Information obtained from National Safety Council