Workplace violence refers to violence that poses a risk to the health and safety of an employee(s) at or outside the place of work. This type of violence includes but is not limited to threats, intimidation either verbal or written, harassment, verbal abuse, physical assault and in extreme cases, homicide. It is unfortunate that anyone is at risk of violence at work. However, what makes the difference is the occupation with some posing higher risks than others. High risk occupations include health practitioner’s especially home caregivers and psychological specialists. The good news is that there are measures that can be taken; though not necessarily to rule out the possibility of workplace violence but to reduce it. Here are some of them:

Zero tolerance policy

The employer should make it official that violent behaviour will not be entertained at all. The perpetrator must be brought to book so as to discourage this vice. Encouraging workplace violence whether directly or indirectly may have dire consequences on the overall welfare and success of the workplace.

Initiate a protection program

The employer should enroll a task force to design an effective workplace violence protection program that will seek to address the issue of workplace violence. This program should comprise of a confidential means through which potential threats can be reported. It should then have a preset manner in which allegations of threats can be investigated. This program should be specific so that adherence can be easy and manageable.

Safety education

Employees should be enrolled into a program that will equip them with the knowledge and skills on how to recognize avoid and hopefully diffuse potentially violent situations.

Open communication

As soon as an employer identifies a potentially violent situation, he should communicate this to an authority such as his company supervisor.

Employee empowerment

The employee should be empowered to be in a position to decline working in an environment he deems unsafe. If this is not done, employees may feel the need to tolerate a potentially dangerous situation leading to violence. This can also be achieved by using a buddy program that requires that each employee has a peer to answer to. He should then make sure to inform his particular buddy about his activities at all times. This is very effective as it sometimes allows for the buddies to accompany each other to perform their various tasks. In the cases of employees facing up to the danger of violence from clients, having company may provide a wiser means of avoiding this extremities. After all, there is strength in numbers.

Secure the place of work

The employer should provide a safe environment from which employees should work from. This can be achieved through the use of identification badges, electronic keys, alarms and also employ trained security guards. These methods will collectively lead to the reduction of workplace violence. There should also be devised a program that equips the employer with safety enhancement gadgets such as hand- held alarms, cell phones so that his position can be traced easily. When in danger, he can use the alarm to summon for help.

Proper background checks for new employees

During the employment process, the employer should carry out thorough investigations of each employee to establish whether they have violent tendencies. It may be pro- active to find out whether individuals have any basic skills on how to avoid and react to violent situations. This can easily be assessed by monitoring emotions such anger management and patience. Generally, patient persons are less prone to violent situations and people who have a problem dealing with anger are more likely to attract violence.

Carry out drug compliance tests

The employer should carry out regular drug and substance use tests. He must insist that the minimum allowance is that allowed by the federal state or local law. This is usually the case in Melborne. He should aim at a negative result for each employee. This is tied to the idea that drug abuse and addictions may cause temperament issues that may soon result in violence at the workplace.

Employee welfare program

Any successful company has the welfare of employees at heart. Offering support to employees may help them cope with personal issues more easily and faster. This helps them overcome their emotional burdens so that they do not transfer this to the workplace. Many perpetrators of violence are people with inner turmoil that they are unable to bare.

Workplace violence cannot be entirely avoided. However, some effective measures can reduce these instances greatly