The occurrence of workplace violence or crime is higher than many people believe. The fact is it is something that can happen at any time, anywhere and to anyone. It’s estimated that more than two million workers in the U.S. are going to experience some type of workplace violence this year alone. Even though many crimes occur at the hands of someone unknown to the individual, other crimes may occur between coworkers.
Who is at Risk?
As mentioned before, anyone can be a victim of workplace violence; however, there are some people who are more likely to be victims, than others. Those at the highest risk include:
• Social workers or those in the healthcare industry
• Anyone who takes or exchanges money
• Retail workers
• Those working early in the morning or late at night
• Those who work in a high crime area
• Anyone who works alone
It is up to the employer to ensure they take steps to deter crime and safeguard their workers. One of the best ways to do this is with a high-quality security system. Some of the components to ensure are included with this system can be found here.
Adequate lighting. You can deter people from lurking in a dark or shadowed entrance or at the rear of a building by adding lighting to these areas. Bright lights can also help those who are a victim or those who witness a crime better identify the culprit.
Alarms. The easiest way to prevent crime is by installing a burglar alarm. This can do wonders when it comes to deterring criminals from trying to break into a building and do harm. It’s a good idea to use a monitored alarm, as it can identify the police of a situation right away.
Video surveillance. A high-quality video camera can provide you with a view of the crime being committed. It can also capture any type of worker misconduct or violence. What’s even better is that it works 24/7, providing a higher peace of mind than other security measures.
Access control. With access control you can dictate who can and can’t enter or interact with a business or those inside.
If you have yet to implement the security measures above, now is the time to do so. This can help prevent or at least reduce cases of workplace violence.
