Every April, organizations across the United States recognize Workplace Violence Awareness Month, an important time to highlight the risks of workplace violence and the steps necessary to prevent it. It is also an opportunity for employers to learn about the latest developments in workplace violence prevention.
In the U.S., nearly 2 million workers report having been the victims of workplace violence each year. For perspective, this represents about 1% of the American labor force.
Workplace Violence Defined
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as any type of act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation that occurs at a work site. Note: workplace violence isn’t just physical.
Employees or non-employees, including clients, employees’ partners, vendors, or strangers, can carry out any of these acts of workplace violence.
- Harassment
- Threats
- Verbal abuse
- Psychological trauma
- Property damage
- Physical attacks
Warning Signs
While it’s possible for someone to commit an act of workplace violence out of the blue, it’s more common for there to be indicators along the way.
The following behaviors and patterns may indicate an employee is becoming less stable:
- Substance/alcohol abuse
- Withdrawal, chronic depression, suicidal comments
- Mood swings, emotional responses
- Change in job performance, excessive absenteeism
- Displays of paranoia
- Threats made to other employees
What to Do
Your best defense against workplace violence is being proactive about it. It’s better to have all the right protocols in place than to not have anything situated and risk something coming up.
- Create a zero-tolerance anti-violence policy
- Provide employee awareness training
- Create an emergency action plan
- Practice safety drills
Helpful resources
- Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
- Preventing Workplace Violence in Healthcare
- Workplace Violence Fact Sheet
SDAHO Workplace Safety Workshop
To assist SDAHO’s Critical Access Hospital (CAH) members, a Hospital Risk Assessment & De-escalation Workshop is taking place May 13, 2025, in Oacoma, SD. This program is being offered through the South Dakota Office of Rural Health, through the Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (FLEX) funds.
This one-day event is through a partnership with SDAHO and the SD Office of Rural Health and is open only to CAH’s. Each South Dakota CAH is eligible to send two representatives to the workshop. The event is free of charge for all Critical Access Hospitals in the state.
To learn more, click here or visit us online and register here.
