The Benefits of Workplace Violence Prevention Training

Written By Elizabeth Berger

Regardless of the industry, everyone should be able to feel safe while at work. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. In the United States, approximately 80 out of 10,000 workers are victimized at work annually, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS).

In some industries, such as the healthcare sector, workplace violence is not a new phenomenon. Recognizing these risks, many states have long required healthcare facilities to have Workplace Violence Prevention Plans (WVPPs) that establish protocols for responding to and reporting violent incidents.

But in recent years, workplace violence has become more prevalent across a range of industries, such as retail, education, manufacturing, and public service. As a result, we are seeing recognition of the need for comprehensive violence prevention strategies, including WVPPs. In this post, we will discuss what the research says about how WVPPs benefit organizations.

Group of employees gathered around multiple computers in an open- workplace environment.

The Impact of Workplace Violence  

Workplace violence incidents can include any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the workplace, ranging from minor to severe. 

Over the 2021-2022 time period, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) tabulated 57,610 incidents (2.9 per 10,000) that were severe enough to necessitate time off from work, job restriction, or transfer. Typically, the highest incident rates are seen in the healthcare and social assistance sectors (14.2 per 10,000), followed by the educational services sector (8.4 per 10,000).  

Intentional homicides in the workplace also appear to be climbing. In 2022, the BLS counted 524 homicides that had occurred in the workplace, representing the highest count since 2011 and an 8.9% increase from 2021. The industries with the highest counts of homicide were the protective services sector (121 homicides) and the transportation sector (76 homicides). 

These statistics highlight the urgent need for comprehensive workplace violence prevention programs (WVPPs) across all industries.

Infographic with blue and white figures emphasizing the information presented in the above text.

Workplace Violence Prevention Planning 

Workplace violence prevention plans (WVPPs) are all about spotting risks and making the workplace safer for everyone. These plans aim to create a culture of safety and preparedness and have multiple components that are implemented across three categories: environmental (e.g., building security and other physical features), administrative (e.g., policies and procedures), and behavioral (e.g., staff training).

Here’s the gist of what they usually include:

  • Protocols for Communication and Incident Reporting: WVPPs set clear rules for reporting and handling violent incidents and create easy ways for employees to report concerns and monitor patterns of problematic behavior or incidents.  Maintaining clear communication between staff is important to coordinate efforts, share important information, monitor potential risks, and address concerns quickly. For more information on how communication and information sharing can help prevent violence, check out our companion post, “The Role of Training and Communication in Preventing Healthcare Violence.”

  • Risk Assessment: WVPPs usually include  a risk assessment of the physical workplace environment to identify factors that may increase the risk of violence, such as inadequate security measures, poor facility layout, or lack of emergency exits. A job hazard analysis (JHA) can also be used to assess specific job roles and tasks that may expose employees to violence.

  • Behavioral Threat Assessment: A behavioral threat assessment looks at employee and customer behavior to assess the potential for violent actions. It includes identifying potential sources of violence (e.g. employee conflicts, customer interactions, or outside threats), and training employees how to identify and monitor warning signs such as aggression, verbal threats, or signs of stress that could escalate into violent behavior. The goal of this type of assessment is to understand the severity of a potential threat and figure out how to mitigate it before it escalates. For more information on threat assessment, check out our companion posts on threat assessment for active shooter prevention and school violence prevention.

  • De-escalation: De-escalation and conflict management techniques are helpful for quelling situations before they become more violent, and can be used to mitigate workplace conflicts and guide people toward more peaceful resolutions. WVPPs often train employees in various verbal and non-verbal de-escalation techniques to help calm tense situations. To learn more about some of these methods, check out our companion posts on de-escalation techniques and communication skills.

  • Situational Awareness: Situational awareness is a key component that overlaps with all of the strategies mentioned above, as it is helpful for both detecting initial potential risks and being able to anticipate whether an incident might escalate. It involves being cognizant of one's surroundings, recognizing warning signs of potential threats, and proactively taking measures to mitigate risks. As such, it plays a key role in workplace violence prevention. To learn more about situational awareness, check out our companion post, “The 4 Benefits of Situational Awareness.”

To learn more about workplace violence prevention plans in general, check out our companion post: “Preventing Workplace Violence.”

Benefits of Workplace Violence Prevention Planning

Workplace violence prevention plans (WVPPs) are comprehensive strategies that aim to reduce or eliminate violent incidents before they happen. These outcomes are inherently difficult to observe because if the prevention is successful, the harmful event may never occur. Thus, instead of focusing solely on tabulating the number or rate of violent incidents, researchers also frequently use indirect metrics, like changes in employee behavior, awareness, or attitudes, to assess effectiveness. 

One of the primary benefits of workplace violence prevention planning is enhanced employee safety. A 2021 systematic review on emergency departments found that WVPPs had significant benefits, including decreases in the frequency of violent incidents occurring towards emergency department staff, as well as improvements in employees’ abilities to deescalate potentially violent situations. Overall multicomponent interventions, such as those that include organizational changes, employee training, and management support, tend to be superior to standalone trainings in terms of reducing rates of workplace violence.

Doctors and healthcare staff in walking in a hospital hallway.

WVPPs can also enhance employees’ feelings of safety as well as their confidence in handling violent incidents. For example, a 2022 study on healthcare workers found that the WVPPs improved workers’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and confidence in handling aggressive individuals. Similarly, a 2021 systematic review examining interventions to de-escalate workplace violence against nurses found that such programs decreased the rate of verbal abuse against staff and improved nurses’ ability to assess and deal with violent situations.

In schools, a 2024 systematic review found that elementary school violence prevention programs were effective in reducing violence and disruptive behaviors. Further, a 2010 study found that school violence prevention policies that enhanced reporting for sexual harassment, verbal abuse, and threats were associated with reduced risks of physical assault.  

When looking at the impact of WVPPs on the number of violent workplace incidents, evidence is somewhat mixed, with some studies showing reductions in the rate of violent incidents and others not finding an effect. This is in part due to: 1) difficulties in measuring prevented incidents, 2) inconsistent implementation of programs, and 3) methodological issues across studies.

For example, a 2007 study  on workplace violence programs in high-risk emergency departments in California and New Jersey revealed that, while most hospitals had implemented WVPPs, there were still important gaps in the components of training, policies, and procedures. Specifically, fewer than 10% of hospitals in both states implemented the full extent of required training (7.5% in California and 5.6% in New Jersey). Similarly, a 2022 meta-analysis reviewed ten studies on WVPPs and found that overall evidence on WVPPs was sparse and insignificant, despite some studies indicating reductions in violence.

These findings present a call to action for organizations to push for further investigation regarding the impact of their WVPPs. Organizations should leverage existing data from incident reports, employee surveys, and any other readily available data to gain insights into patterns, trends, and areas of success within workplace violence prevention strategies.

Situational Awareness in the Workplace 

Situational awareness is vital in preventing workplace violence and is integral to anticipating, assessing, and de-escalating potential threats. At Second Sight Training Systems, we recognize its paramount importance in fostering a safe and secure work environment.

Our Situational Awareness for Safety training equips employees with the knowledge and skills to enhance their awareness of potential threats and effectively respond to them. After only a short time, your personnel will be systematically observing what they see, looking for patterns of behavior, identifying threatening individuals or situations, and recognizing actions to take based on their observations. 

We have experience training employees from various sectors, including social services, community health, public works, and churches and schools. Our trainees have reported significant benefits from the training. For example: 

  • 93.9% report being better prepared to look for threats 

  • 93.3% report the course left them better prepared to take action and stay safe 

  • 92% report the skills learned in the course will assist them in their job.  

Our 1-hour online training is available right now and can accommodate any number of employees. Alternatively, we have a 2-hour virtual and in-person instructor-led training. 

Get in Touch 

By investing in situational awareness training, leaders and managers can reduce workplace violence risk and create a safety culture within their organizations. Employees can identify and address potential hazards through heightened awareness and proactive intervention before they escalate, ultimately fostering a more secure and productive workplace environment. 

Fostering a work environment where safety is prioritized and everyone is responsible for maintaining a secure and respectful space. Together, let us prioritize safety and well-being, ensuring every employee feels safe at work. Contact the team at Second Sight to learn more about getting situational awareness training in your workplace. 

Elizabeth Berger
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