How to prevent violence towards employees

Violence toward staff in high-risk settings is a growing concern for different sectors and governments.  

As rates of aggression toward healthcare staff, care workers and retail staff rise, it’s clear that measures need to be put in place to protect employees in potentially dangerous workplaces.   

As the leading provider of staff safety systems, Pinpoint has unique insight into the safety measures that can be implemented to protect staff. Read on for five steps that businesses can take to reduce rates of violence toward their employees.  

Conduct a thorough risk assessment  

All high-risk workplaces should have a detailed risk assessment in place to protect workers against potential threats to staff safety. A risk assessment identifies all possible dangers and provides a clear outline of how each will be managed.  

This thorough document enables businesses to implement measures to reduce key risks and develop thorough strategies to deal with aggressive behaviour. For example, placing new service users on 2-1 surveillance or ensuring the available staff attack system is accessible to all staff.   

Carried out well, risk assessments decrease the likelihood of a violent incident occurring and allow for a planned response should it happen.   

Train staff in de-escalation techniques  

De-escalation training provides staff with the tools and knowledge to prevent a violent incident from occurring. Employees gain skills in managing aggressive behaviour to prevent the situation from intensifying. This includes clear and considered communication, unprovoking body language and distraction, in addition to surveillance and physical restraint.  

Ensuring that all staff are competent in de-escalation is critical to preventing the threat of abuse in high-risk working environments.  

Install an effective staff attack system  

It’s crucial that staff in high-risk workplaces can quickly and easily call for assistance should a service user become violent. In certain situations where de-escalation techniques do not work, staff attack systems are needed to protect workers and service users themselves.  

Pinpoint’s integrated staff attack systems offer a reliable and efficient security solution that ensures employees can summon additional assistance in an emergency. By simply pressing a small, discreet personal alarm, staff notify a response team as to the location and nature of an incident. The message is sent and delivered in under 85milliseconds, allowing the team to react quickly and provide the necessary support.   

Our award-winning staff safety systems act as reassurance to staff that they are protected at work and can access help should they need it. As a result, they are better able to carry out their responsibilities more effectively.  

CCTV  

The presence of CCTV in high-risk settings serves as a deterrent against violence toward staff as service users are often less inclined to behave aggressively if they are aware they are being recorded. 

Visual recordings also provide vital evidence and information to prevent similar incidents from recurring. Careful surveillance allows organisations to better understand triggers for aggressive behaviour and in doing so, take action to prevent potential threats to safety.  

Encourage open communication  

If a violent incident does occur, it’s important that employees are able to talk about their experience without fear of judgement or recrimination.   

It’s vital that violence toward staff is recorded and not swept under the rug. Much like CCTV, personal accounts of violent attacks are useful for informing future procedures, risk assessments and training.  

Combining all five steps outlined above forms a comprehensive, robust strategy to protect against violence toward staff in high-risk environments.  

Are your employees at risk of violence at work? Learn more about our range of Staff Attack Systems here.