Violence: Prevention, Management and Survival (VPS) Independent Study - Construction

Our Violence: Prevention, Management and Survival certification covers:

The Problem of Violence in America
The Problem of Violence in the Workplace
Types of Violence
Factors Which May Increase Risk of Assault
Identifying a Potentially Violent Worker
Managing and Surviving Disruptive, Threatening, or Violent Behavior
And much more!
Course Outline

Certification:

Violence Prevention Specialist (VPS)

Course Objectives:

Violence in the workplace was epidemic in America before 9/11. Each year employers report 2,000,000 assaults in the workplace (it is estimated that five assaults occur for every one reported); nearly half a million of these are seriously injured; 51,000 are reported raped or otherwise sexually assaulted (it is estimated that ten sexual assaults occur for every one reported); 1,000 are murdered, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Additionally, each day thousands of employees are harassed, intimidated, threatened and verbally abused. Workplace homicide was already the number one killer of women in the workplace and, depending on the interpretation you prefer, number one or two for men and women combined. This, of course, was before 9/11. More

Learning Outcome:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to define workplace violence, recognize the potential for violence in both behavior and environment, assess risks of the workplace, effectively manage and report incidents of violence, evaluate the workplace violence prevention plans.

Optional Credits:

The estimated time required to complete the course is 24 hours, but can be done at the student's own pace. The student will take a comprehensive online exam at the end of the course. You must score 80% to receive certification. You have three opportunities to pass the exam.

Two (2) CEUs are offered through the University of North Carolina at Wilmington for this course. If you are interested in receiving CEU s for this course, upon successful completion of the exam please either download the form and instructions here or the obtain form and instructions from a Member Services Representative by calling 800-922-2219.

Click on the link below to register for:

Violence Prevention Specialist (VPS)

Violence Prevention Specialist (VPS) - Download: $245.00

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Workplace Violence Prevention Course Outline

The Problem of Violence in America
- Homicides
  - Over 15,500 reported annually
  - Adjusted for estimated unreported incidents: 22,000
- Assaults
  - 7,560,000
  - Adjusted for estimated unreported incidents: 37,800,000
- Burglary
  - Over 2 million reported annually
  - Adjusted for estimated unreported incidents: over 2,500,000
- Sexual Assaults
  - 500,000
  - Adjusted for estimated unreported incidents: over 5,000,000
- Crime Clock
  - One murder every 23.9 minutes
  - One assault every .83 seconds
  - One burglary every 13 seconds
  - One sexual assault every 6 seconds
The Problem of Violence in the Workplace
- Homicides: More Americans are murdered at work than die at work from any other cause
  - OSHA reports 1,000 per Year
  - Adjusted for estimated incidents not reported to OSHA: 1,500 per year
- Assaults
  - OSHA estimates 2 million per year
  - Other estimates as high as 10 million per year
- Sexual Assaults
  - OSHA estimates 51 thousand per year
  - Other estimates as high as 500,000 per year
- Economic Impact of Workplace Violence
  - Estimates range from $70 million to $200 million
Types of Violence
- Level I: Disruptive behavior such as verbal abuse
- Level II: Aggressive/threatening behavior
- Level III: Physical assault
Violence Includes
- Level I
  - Intimidation/bullying
  - Obscene language
  - Obscene gestures
  - Shouting
  - False statements
  - Threats of non-physical acts
  - Minimal harassment
  - Other
- Level II
  - Psychological traumas
  - Suicide threat
  - Threats of assault
  - Obscene calls
  - Being followed
  - Advanced harassment
  - Other
- Level III
  - Shooting
  - Stabbing
  - Striking with an object
  - Striking with hands or feet
  - Push or grab
  - Throwing objects
  - Rape
  - Sexual assault
  - Suicides
  - Attempted suicides
  - Assault by biological hazards
  - Assault by chemical hazards
  - Other
Factors Which May Increase Risk of Assault
- Employment tasks and activities
- Personal tasks and activities
Identifying a Potentially Violent Worker
- Personal characteristics
- Attitude as an indicator
- Stress as an indicator
- The Risk of Eruptive Violence Scale Test (Rev)
Managing and Surviving Disruptive, Threatening, or Violent Behavior
- Level I: Disruptive
  - Mitigation techniques
- Level II: Aggressive (Threatening)
  - Conflict resolution and mediation techniques
- Level III: Assault (Violent)
  - Prior to an assault
    - Conflict resolution and mediation techniques
    - Self-defense
  - After the assault has occurred
    - Mitigation techniques
    - Survival techniques
Preventing Violence and Assaults
- How not to be a victim
  - Prevention
  - Recognition of potential danger
  - Avoiding potential danger
- Physical assault
  - The truth and the myths
  - Fight or flight reactions
  - Aggressive self-defense
  - Passive self-defense
    - Psychology of the aggressor
    - Conflict resolution and mediation
- Post incident
  - CPR and first aid
  - Mental and emotional support
  - Reporting
Common Violence Scenarios and Appropriate Responses
- Common workplace incidents
  - Co-worker
  - Subordinate
  - Significant other
  - Intimidation
  - Sexual Assault
Workplace Vulnerability Assessment and Hazard Analysis
- Purpose
- Assessment methods
  - Hazard identification
  - Checklist
- Vulnerability
  - Checklist
  - Analysis
Workplace Violence Management/Prevention Program
- Management commitment
  - Commitment to employee safety and health
  - System of accountability
  - Policy
  - Comprehensive security plan
  - Assign responsibility and authority for program
- Employee involvement
  - Management understanding of employee concerns
  - Management understanding of employees' need for security after 9/11
  - Recognition of counseling needs
- Workplace vulnerability assessment and hazard analysis
- Elimination of hazards and reduction of vulnerability
  - Engineering controls and workplace adaptation
  - Administrative and work practice controls
  - Post incident response
  - Training and education
- Post-incident response
  - Physical needs
  - Mental/emotional needs
  - Fiscal needs
- Disaster recovery
  - Being prepared
  - Protecting and recovering information
  - Facilities
- Record keeping
- Program evaluation
Bringing it All Together
- A systematic approach
- Maximizing the effect
- Effective follow through
- Effective presentation to others

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Course Objectives (cont.):

Workplace violence, in many ways, "fell through the cracks" prior to 9/11 because safety professionals largely felt it was a security issue and security professionals largely felt it was a safety issue. Both groups took some halting steps toward addressing the problem but both came from very different points of view. It's time to further blur the line between safety and security in this issue. Whether you call it "safety" or "security", the American worker needs to feel protected from violence.

Violence in America is epidemic with over 15,500 homicides reported annually but when adjusted for estimated unreported incidents the estimate may double that. Assaults reported equal 7,560,000 but adjusted for estimated unreported incidents total 37,800,000. Burglary reports are over 2 million annually and when adjusted for estimated unreported incidents exceed 2,500,000. Sexual assaults reported are over 500,000 but when adjusted for estimated unreported incidents the total exceeds 5,000,000.

The American crime clock ticks off one murder every 23.9 minutes, one assault every .83 seconds, one burglary every 13 seconds, and one sexual assault every 6 seconds.

Violence in the American Workplace mirrors the general statistics. More Americans are murdered at work than die at work from any other cause. OSHA reports 1,000 workplace homicides per year and when adjusted for estimated incidents not reported to OSHA exceeds 1,500 per year. Assaults in the workplace are estimated by OSHA at 2 million per year with other estimates as high as 10 million per year. Sexual assaults in the workplace are estimated by OSHA at 51,000 per year with other estimates as high as 500,000 per year.

Estimates of the economic impact of workplace violence range from $70 million to $200 million annually. Workplace violence results in 1,175,100 lost work days annually, $55 million in lost wages annually, lost productivity, legal expenses, property damage, diminished public image, and Increased security costs.
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