Workplace violence has become an increasing risk in the United States. OSHA has placed an emphasis on identifying the risk factors for workplace violence and reducing those risks. Discuss what you believe are some major risk factors for workplace violence. If you are aware of an incident of workplace violence, you may share that incident with the class but please do not use actual names of people or companies. Recommend some ways to reduce workplace violence.
ALSO PLEASE REPLY TO ANOTHER STUDENTS COMMENT BELOW
DIANA:
Although I am grateful to say I have never experienced work place violence personally, I have seen it happen at past companies. One incident I remember very vividly is two individuals that were forced to work together even though they could not get along for anything. This eventually came to a head and they ended up in a fist fight in the middle of the jobsite. I will say that neither of these individuals were very giving in efforts to resulve the conflict, but the management wasn’t helpful either. It was known there was tension betweenn the two and the supervisor kept assigning them to work together, maybe thinking they would work through it, I’m not sure. But it didn’t end very well. In my field tempers flare easily. We work in extreme conditions and some days completey exhausted and it is very easy to lose sight of your perspective and get aggitated. When this happens, and others are just as aggitated as you are, tensions get high. Stress, exhaustion, and fatigue I believe are extreme factors for work place violence to occur. I think as management you need to have a good understanding of the attitudes and atmosphere of the jobsite. If tensions start to develop, have everyone step back and take an extra break for a moment. Or maybe move the individual who is getting worked up to another job for the day as a means of rest and escape. I’m sure there are many other reasons for workplace violence, but I personally feel these are the most abundant ones in my line of work.
