Workplace Violence Prevention Program Assessment Checklist

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Workplace Violence Prevention Program Assessment Checklist

The following is the OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Program Assessment Checklist. This list should be used as part of the regular inspection or audit:
StaffingYesNoNotes
Is there someone responsible for building security?
Who is it?
Are workers told who is responsible for security?
Is adequate and trained staffing available to protect workers who are in potentially dangerous situations?
Are there trained security personnel accessible to workers in a timely manner?
Do security personnel have sufficient authority to take all necessary action to ensure worker safety?
Are security personnel provided outside the building?
Is the parking lot attended or otherwise secure?
Are security escorts available to walk employees to and from the parking lot?
Training YesNoNotes
Are workers trained in the emergency response plan (for example, escape routes and notifying the proper authorities)?
Are workers trained to report violent incidents or threats?
Are workers trained in how to handle difficult patients or clients?
Are workers trained in ways to prevent or defuse potentially violent situations?
Are workers trained in personal safety and self-defense?
Facility DesignYesNoNotes
Are there enough exits and adequate routes of escape?
Can exit doors be opened only from the inside to prevent unauthorized entry?
Is the lighting adequate to see clearly in indoor areas?
Are there employee-only work areas that are separate from the public areas?
Is access to work areas only through a reception area?
Are reception and work areas designed to prevent unauthorized entry?
Could someone hear a worker call for help?
Can workers observe patients or clients in waiting areas?
Do areas used for patient or client interviews allow co-workers to observe any problems?
Are waiting and work areas free of objects that could be used as weapons?
Are chairs and furniture secured to prevent their use as weapons?
Is furniture in waiting areas arranged to prevent workers from becoming trapped?
Are patient or client areas designed to maximize comfort and minimize stress?
Is a secure place available for workers to store their personal belongings?
Are private, locked restrooms available for staff?
SECURITY MEASURES-Does the workplace have?YesNoNotes
Physical barriers (Plexiglas partitions, elevated counters to prevent people from jumping over them, bullet-resistant customer windows, etc.)?
Security cameras or closed-circuit TV in high risk areas?
Panic buttons - (portable or fixed)?
Alarm systems?
Metal detectors?
X-ray machines?
Door locks?
Internal phone system to activate emergency assistance?
Phones with an outside line programmed to call 911?
Security mirrors (convex mirrors)?
Secured entry (buzzers)?
Personal alarm devices?
Outside the FacilityYesNoNotes
Do workers feel safe walking to and from the workplace?
Are the entrances to the building clearly visible from the street?
Is the area surrounding the building free of bushes or other hiding places?
Is video surveillance provided outside the building?
Are all exterior walkaways visible to security personnel?
Is there a nearby parking lot reserved for employees only?
Is the parking lot free of bushes or other hiding places?
Is there enough lighting to see clearly in the parking lot when walking to the building?
Have neighboring facilities and businesses experienced violence or crime?
Workplace ProceduresYesNoNotes
Are employees given maps and clear directions in order to navigate the areas where they will be working?
Is public access to the building controlled?
Are floor plans posted showing building entrances, exits, and locations of security personnel?
Are these floor plans visible only to staff and not to outsiders?
Is other emergency information posted, such as telephone numbers?
Are special security measures taken to protect people who work late at night (escorts, locked entrances, etc.)?
Are visitors or clients escorted to offices for appointments?
Are authorized visitors to the building required to wear ID badges?
Are identification tags required for staff (omitting personal information such as the person's last name and social security number)?
Are workers notified of past violent acts by particular clients, patients, etc.?
Is there an established liaison with local police and counseling agencies?
Are patients or clients in waiting areas clearly informed on how to use the department's services so they will not become frustrated?
Are waiting times for patient or client services kept short to prevent frustration?
Are broken windows and locks repaired promptly?
Are security devices (locks, cameras, alarms, etc.) tested on a regular basis and repaired promptly when necessary?
FIELD WORK - Staffing: YesNoNotes
Are escorts or "buddies" provided for people who work in potentially dangerous situations?
Is assistance provided to workers in the field in a timely manner when requested?
FIELD WORK - Training:YesNoNotes
Are workers briefed about the area in which they will be working (gang colors, neighborhood culture, language, drug activity, etc.)?
Can workers effectively communicate with people they meet in the field (same language, etc.)?
Are people who work in the field late at night or early in the morning advised about special precautions to take?
FIELD WORK - Work EnvironmentYesNoNotes
Is there enough lighting to see clearly in all areas where workers must go?
Are there safe places for workers to eat, use the restroom, store valuables, etc.?
Are there places where workers can go for protection in case of emergency?
Is safe parking readily available for employees in the field?
FIELD WORK - Security Measures:YesNoNotes
Are workers provided two-way radios, pagers, or cellular phones?
Are workers provided with personal alarm devices or portable panic buttons?
Are vehicle door and window locks controlled by the driver?
Are vehicles equipped with physical barriers (Plexiglas partitions, etc.)?
FIELD WORK - Work Procedures:YesNoNotes
Are employees given maps and clear directions for covering the areas where they would be working?
Are employees given alternative routes to use in neighborhoods with a high crime rate?
Does a policy exist to allow employees to refuse service to clients or customers (in the home, etc.) in a hazardous situation?
Has a liaison with the police been established?
Do workers avoid carrying unnecessary items that someone could use as a weapon against them?
Does the employer provide a safe vehicle or other transportation for use in the field?
Are vehicles used in the field routinely inspected and kept in good working order?
Is there always someone who knows where each employee is?
Are name tags required for workers in the field (omitting personal information such as last name and social security number)?
Are workers notified of past violent acts by particular clients, patient, etc.?
FIELD WORK - Are Special Precautions Taken When Workers:YesNoNotes
Have to take something away from people (remove children from the home)?
Have contact with people who behave violently?
Use vehicles or wear clothing marked with the name of an organization that the public may strongly dislike?
Perform duties inside people's homes?
Have contact with dangerous animals (dogs, etc.)?