Utah State University takes efforts to avoid workplace violence
Is violence becoming a trend?
The world was shocked on October 28, when Robert Stewart Flores Jr., a 41-year-old nursing student, carried five handguns with him to school at the University of Arizona and killed three of his professors. A close examination of that act of cruelty is essential in an effort to learn how to prevent a similar violent situation from reccurring. There were obvious signs that Flores was a danger to others, but because they were conveniently overlooked, innocent people lost their lives.
Utah State University has taken action in response to the tragedy that occurred in Arizona in an effort to protect its campus students and faculty or any other individual from any acts or threats of violence.
Last month the Utah State University Board of Trustees approved the inclusion of “Violence in the Workplace% in the university‚s policy manual. By so doing, Utah State has laid the groundwork for preventing potential violence in the workplace.
The policy defines workplace violence as any physical assault, threatening, or intimidating behavior, or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting. There is zero tolerance for behaviors characterized as violent. Recommended procedures for how to efficiently respond to acts of violence are described within the policy, as well as specific guidelines to follow if a hostile situation occurs.
Along with outlining ways to respond to violence, the policy also requires that, in coordination with the Utah State Police, there be a University-wide mandatory training program coordinated by the Personnel Services Office. Specific responsibilities are placed upon Utah State employees, department heads and supervisors, the Personnel Services Office and the Utah State Police to ensure that all regulations and requirements of the policy are met.
Within the guidelines of the policy, there are specific descriptions of how to respond to acts of aggression in various situations. Some general steps to follow include the following: immediately dial 9-1-1; attempt to get yourself and others out of harm‚s way; remain calm; do not make sudden movements that could be seen as threatening; always watch for an opportunity to leave the area; and do not challenge, threaten or belittle the person. All of these, and several others as outlined in the workplace violence policy, will help to effectively respond to violent situations, said Utah State Chief of Police Steven J. Mecham.
More importantly than knowing how to respond to acts of violence is knowing how to prevent them from ever occurring. Many situations can be handled without violence if you simply treat everyone with respect.
However, there are other fundamental rules of violence prevention. They include: always follow proper security procedures, such as reporting the emergency and reaching safety; try to spot trouble early by staying alert and trusting your feelings of uneasiness; pay special attention to co-workers, clients or customers with a known history; and always take threats seriously.
Regardless of the person acting or threatening with violence, never try to be the hero. Always let a trained security official or police handle the situation, Mecham said.
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