Managing and Preventing Workplace Violence Involving Non‑Employees

Author, Jadyn Brandt, Client Communications Coordinator, Rancho Mesa Insurance Services, Inc.

When employers seek to address workplace violence, trainings are often centered around preventing violent acts from occurring in an office environment. But, serious occurrences of workplace violence can also happen outside of an office setting.

Utility or maintenance workers performing jobs late at night, social service workers dealing with patients experiencing mental health crises, or construction workers staffed in high-crime areas are some examples of employees who may be vulnerable to violence by non-employees.

These types of incidents are often recordable under the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) guidelines. Section 1904.5(b)(6) of OSHA's recordkeeping regulation states injuries and illnesses are recordable if they occur while the employee was taking part in activities "in the interest of the employer."

If an employee is traveling to and from a jobsite, performing work on a jobsite, or dealing with clients, vendors, or outside contractors when the violence occurs, the incident will likely be OSHA recordable.

Precautionary actions can be taken in order to keep employees safe and reduce the likelihood of a violent incident. OSHA recommends employers establish a zero-tolerance policy. The policy should, “cover all workers, patients, clients, visitors, contractors, and anyone else who may come in contact with employees.”

No matter how you choose to incorporate a workplace violence prevention program into your company policies, training and clear communication are key for proper implementation. OSHA advises employers to “ensure that all workers know the policy; are trained on prevention methods, signs for potential violent behavior, and how to effectively react when an incident occurs; and understand that all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and remedied promptly.”

Workplace violence prevention training can be found in both Rancho Mesa’s SafetyOne™ Platform and RM365 HRAdvantage™ portal.

Other workplace violence prevention resources can also be found on the OSHA website, including specific guidance for health and human services workers.