Almost 2 million Americans report being victims of workplace violence each year. These unfortunate episodes often involve unstable colleagues or disgruntled employees, and in some industries like healthcare, it can even be the leading cause of injury for workers.
Not all violent outbursts in the workplace are preventable. Though the employer may work hard to ensure a safe environment for everyone, the reality is that workplace violence likely isn’t going anywhere.
What Counts as Workplace Violence?
Workplace violence can take different forms, but it is mostly considered any action or outburst made by one employee that could hurt/affect another. Some of these actions include:
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Threats;
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Destroying property;
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Harassment;
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Verbal abuse;
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Assaults.
Essentially, just about any action taken by someone to make others feel unsafe in the workplace is violent behavior.
Warning Signs
It’s important to know the warning signs of workplace violence so that employees and employers alike could act in time and possibly avoid anyone getting hurt.
The signs of violence often have to do with a worker’s mental state, which is the root of the violent outburst. The worker could be going through a stressful time, or even suffer from a mental disorder.
Some red flags that may tell you to take actions are:
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A sudden change in behavior;
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Uncontrollable impulses – crying, temper tantrums;
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Being disrespectful;
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Reduced quality of work, not paying attention;
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Being aggressive when criticized;
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Not connecting to the group;
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Displaying inappropriate behavior.
It’s important to note that if you see these signs, it doesn’t necessarily mean the worker is bound to have a violent episode. Actually, these are often signals that the worker is in need of assistance, and if employers act fast when they see these signals they can prevent any violent episodes.
How to Keep Yourself Safe
If you notice any of the signs in one of your coworkers, you should notify a supervisor as soon as you can. Particularly if the violent behavior is directed at you, you should ask your supervisor to transfer you to a different team and try to minimize your contact with the other employee.
Even if the behavior is not violent, you still have to make your employer aware of any inappropriate conduct any worker might have. It’s often the only thing you can do to prevent a violent outburst.
I’ve Been Hurt. What Now?
If you’ve been injured by a coworker, then you may be entitled to workers compensation benefits, though it greatly depends on the case. You will most likely have to fight to get this compensation, which is why you should consider hiring a St. Louis workers compensation attorney at this time.
Give us a call 24/7 at (314) 361-4300 for a FREE Case Evaluation.
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