Elements of a workplace violence prevention program

Risk factors can be related to patients, clients, and settings and include the following:

• Working directly with people who have a history of violence, abuse drugs or alcohol, are gang members, and are relatives of patients or clients;
• Transporting patients and clients;
• Working alone in a facility or in patients’ homes;
• Poor workplace design that may block employees’ vision or interfere with their escape from a violent incident;
• Poorly lit corridors, rooms, parking lots, and other areas;
• Absence of emergency communication methods;
• Prevalence of firearms, knives, and other weapons; and
• Working in neighborhoods with high crime rates.

Other risks are related to the organization, such as:

• Lack of policies and employee training for recognizing and managing hostile and assaultive behaviors from patients, clients, visitors, or staff;
• Understaffing and high turnover;
• Inadequate security and mental health personnel on site;
• Long waits for patients or clients and overcrowded, uncomfortable waiting rooms;
• Unrestricted movement of the public in clinics and hospitals; and
• A perception that violence is tolerated and victims will not be able to report the incident.