WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION & INTERVENTION

The United States Department of Labor defines workplace violence as, “any physical assault, threatening behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting.” Workplace violence can be classified into four types, each of which presents its own unique challenges to prevention and response.
Blue Line Public Safety Officers are well versed in the methods required to intervene in each one of the four types of Workplace Violence. Their careers as Law Enforcement Officers give them the experience, training, and professionalism required to handle the unique set of circumstances associated with each type.

W.A.P.D. can assist you with developing a plan to help prevent workplace violence situations and minimize the associated risks. We can also assist you with training your staff to respond appropriately if they are faced with one of these terrifying and potentially deadly situations.

Due to their superior experience and training, W.A.P.D. Officers are better suited to deal with workplace violence situations than average security guards. Average security guards will be completely ineffective and can often make the problems worse. They simply lack the training and experience required.

Below you will find descriptions of each of the four types of workplace violence. Click on the type of workplace violence for more detailed information and to see what services W.A.P.D. can provide to address each one.
TYPE I – Offender has no relationship with the victim or workplace establishment. In these incidents, the motive most often is robbery or another type of crime
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TYPE II – Offender currently receives services from the workplace, often as a customer, client, patient, student, or other type of consumer.
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TYPE III – Offender is either a current or former employee who is acting out toward coworkers, managers, or supervisors.
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TYPE IV – Offender is not employed at the workplace, but has a personal relationship with an employee. Often, these incidents are due to domestic disagreements between an employee and the offender.
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TYPE I

Offender has no relationship with the victim or workplace establishment. In these incidents, the motive most often is robbery or another type of crime.

Examples of where Type I workplace violence might occur:
  • Retail Stores
  • Financial Institutions (Banks, Credit Unions, etc…)
  • Conventions
  • Trade Shows
  • Fund Raisers
Burglar Looking Through Window — San Marcos, CA — Wyatt & Associates Protection Division
Possible Solutions:

One of the more common and effective solutions is to provide a visible deterrent by having uniformed Blue Line Public Safety Officers on site as a part of your daily staffing. Plain Clothes W.A.P.D. Officers can also be an effective means of intervention.

TYPE II

Offender currently receives services from the workplace, often as a customer, client, patient, student, or other type of consumer.

Examples of when Type II workplace violence might occur:
  • Any of the Type I examples
  • Hospitals and Care Facilities
  • Schools
  • Political Functions
Holding Teenager — San Marcos, CA — Wyatt & Associates Protection Division
Possible Solutions:

As with Type I, the most common and effective solution is to provide a visible deterrent by having uniformed Blue Line Public Safety Officers on site as a part of your daily staffing. Plain Clothes W.A.P.D. Officers can also be an effective means of intervention, often diffusing a situation before it turns violent.

TYPE III

Offender is either a current or former employee who is acting out toward coworkers, managers, or supervisors.

Examples of when Type III workplace violence might occur:
  • Employee Terminations
  • Employee Disciplinary Meetings
  • Shareholder Meetings
  • Labor Disputes
  • Fund Raisers
  • Company Parties or other gatherings
Two Businessmen Having a Fight — San Marcos, CA — Wyatt & Associates Protection Division
Possible Solutions:

Typically the most effective solution is to have uniformed Blue Line Public Safety Officers present and to make it known ahead of the event. However, some employers might prefer to use a more covert solution as to not alarm other employees if there is no known threats. In the later case Plain Clothes W.A.P.D. Officers can strategically blend into a group or W.A.P.D. Officers and/or STG Agents can provide Personal / Executive Protection for key executives.

TYPE IV

Offender is not employed at the workplace, but has a personal relationship with an employee. Often, these incidents are due to domestic disagreements between an employee and the offender.

Examples of when Type IV workplace violence might occur:
  • Any place at any time
Complaining — San Marcos, CA — Wyatt & Associates Protection Division
Possible Solutions:

As with Type I & Type II, the most common and effective solution is to provide a visible deterrent by having uniformed Blue Line Public Safety Officers on site as a part of your daily staffing. Plain Clothes Blue Line Public Safety Officers can also be an effective means of intervention, often diffusing a situation before it turns violent. As with Type III Blue Line Public Safety can provide your employees and key executives with Personal / Executive Protection as well if you are aware of any current threat.