Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care in California: What Employees Need to Know

Course Description:

Although workplace violence is often unpredictable and can happen in any business, there are some environments and occupations that are at higher risk. One of the occupations at a higher risk is healthcare workers. This session discusses your role in preventing violence by recognizing potential threats, defusing violent situations, and reporting any violent incidents. This course is designed to meet the requirements of California’s Workplace Violence Prevention in Health Care, but it outlines preventive and safe work practices that can apply to health care facilities around the country.

Why “Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care in California: What Employees Need to Know” Matters:

At the completion of this module, the participant will be able to:

• Identify the risk factors of workplace violence
• Recognize the signs of potential violence
• Defuse potentially violent situations safely
• Respond appropriately to large-scale emergencies such as an active shooter situation
• Report incidents of workplace violence
• Identify the signs of distress and seek support after a violent event

Key Points:

• Verbal threats, distraught or agitated family members, and bullying are signs of potential violence.
• Respond to threats or incidents of violence by defusing the situation with calmness, empathy, and a nonthreatening tone.
• The buddy system—or coworkers looking out for each other—is a good work practice to protect you from potential violence.
• If an active shooter situation develops, run to the nearest exit, or if you’re in a patient’s or treatment room, secure the door and stay there.
• Notify your supervisor or the designated representative immediately of any threats that you witnessed or received or any situation in which you feel uncomfortable. You have the right to report such concerns without fear of retaliation from your employer.