Although we do our best at to keep the workplace safe, violence inflicted by an outsider or between employees remains a serious safety and health issue. It can occur inside or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide. In fact, according to the United States Department of Labor, workplace violence is the fourth-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in our country.
Identifying Your Risk
Workplace violence can start as small incidents involving negative remarks and inappropriate behavior, and can escalate to physical or psychological violence. Quarrying, mining and oil or gas drilling workplaces are particularly hazardous because of the dangerous conditions that are inherently a part of the work environment, which can ultimately be used as weapons.
Violence includes actions or words that endanger or harm you, or result in other workers believing that they may be in danger, including the following:
- Verbal or physical harassment
- Verbal or physical threats
- Assaults or other violence
- Any other behavior that causes you to feel unsafe (e.g., bullying or sexual harassment)
Your safety is our top priority. As we emphasize in our Workplace Violence Prevention Program, we do not tolerate threats, bullying, harassment or any other form of violence. Help us keep you safe by understanding your risk and taking steps to protect yourself.
Staying Safe
Nothing can guarantee that you will not become a victim of workplace violence, but you do have the right to expect a workplace that promotes safety from violence, threats and harassment. We have taken steps to help prevent violence in the workplace. Contribute to the safety measures and other efforts that we have in place by doing the following:
- Be aware of and report violent or threatening behavior—or warning signs of such behavior—by coworkers.
- Take all threats seriously.
- Follow procedures established by our Workplace Violence Prevention Program, including those for reporting incidents.
- Learn how to recognize, avoid or diffuse potentially violent situations by attending personal safety training programs.
- Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security, and report all incidents immediately in writing.
- Avoid traveling alone to unfamiliar locations or being in unusual situations whenever possible.
It is of utmost importance to stay alert and aware of any behavior that may be dangerous. Make sure that you are effectively trained in conflict resolution and methods of handling a potentially dangerous situation.
For more energy and risk management resouces, contact INSURICA today.
This is not intended to be exhaustive nor should any discussion or opinions be construed as legal advice. Readers should contact legal counsel or an insurance professional for appropriate advice. ©2025 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved
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