workplace violence

  • Three Keys to Running an Effective Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management Program

    Within the collective process of Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention (WVPI), the employment of a robust Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) program cannot be stressed enough. BTAM is continuing to be adopted in many arenas throughout society: schools, businesses, communities, government agencies, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and more. Its utility is becoming increasingly recognized. After acts of mass shootings, and other extreme violence events, it’s common for warning signs to be uncovered that identified an individual was progressing towards their crime. A unique factor about BTAM is that it seeks to identify whether someone may be progressing towards intentional/targeted violence before an incident occurs. Organizations are commonly challenged with circumstances where one’s behavior is inappropriate or concerning, but it doesn’t rise to the level that allows law enforcement to intervene. This is the space that those responsible for BTAM commonly operate. Here’s three key concepts that are centric to implementing a BTAM program.

  • How Training Fits Within the Larger Picture of Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention

    There tends to be a theme regarding Workplace Violence Prevention and Intervention (WVPI) training within organizations that lack a comprehensive program. Commonly, organizations have a WVPI policy. Many may also provide optional training and, on occasion, mandatory training. However, training often lacks key context. Namely, training may be provided about active assailant response while making little or no mention about the WVPI policy and other prevention considerations. To maximize the effectiveness of a WVPI program, policy and procedures must be paired with training to generate awareness and enterprise-wide integration. In other words, training is intrinsic to comprehensive WVPI.

  • Workplace Violence Prevention Training: De-Escalation

    As we empower individuals to build a strategy that protects their safety and security, it becomes apparent that it’s one thing to tell them what it means to be proactive, use empathy and de-escalate, but understanding how to apply the tools and techniques is another. The true challenge lies in empowering an individual to become critical stakeholders in a safe work environment, one that’s free from intimidation and violence. Without the benefits of training, one could easily find themselves immersed in a situation that seems unmanageable and out of control, which is the exact thing we are trying to prevent in the first place.