threat assessment team (tat) orientation developed by usps eap/wei program september 2006 threat...

TTHREAT HREAT AASSESSMENT SSESSMENT TTEAMEAM

((TATTAT) ORIENTATION) ORIENTATION

Developed by

USPS EAP/WEI Program

September 2006

Threat Assessment Team Members

ORIENTATION AWARENESS

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS ORIENTATION, THE PARTICIPANT SHOULD BE AWARE OF:

USPS commitment to a strategic plan for reducing violence in the workplace

USPS approach to Threat Assessment Team process

Importance of implementing a local Threat Assessment Team

2

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

UPON COMPLETION OF THIS ORIENTATION, THE PARTICIPANTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO

HAVE A WORKING KNOWLEDGE OF:

USPS commitment to preventing violence in the workplace

USPS approach to the Threat Assessment Team process including:

investigating, identifying and analyzing cause(s)

suggesting a course of action maintaining appropriate records

3

TRAINING OBJECTIVES

The importance of implementing a local Threat Assessment Team

Addressing violence prevention issues

Recognizing situations or conditions which could lead to violence

Understanding the difference between Threat Assessment Teams and Emergency Management Teams

4

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration defines workplace violence as the

following:

Threatening, intimidating, abusive, harassing, or violent behavior that is verbal, written, or physical toward others, including co-workers, customers, contractors, suppliers, and visitors to the company

Physically fighting, including pushing, shoving, slapping and punching, on company premises or while conducting company business

5

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Possessing firearms, explosives, or other weapons that are intended by their design or function to inflict fatal injury

Willfully destroying company property or the property of others engaged in company business

Engaging in acts of sabotage designed to damage the effectiveness of the company or any individual associated with it.

6

WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

Any definition of workplace violence must be broad enough to encompass the full range of behaviors that can cause injury, damage property, impede the normal course of work, or make workers, managers, and customers fear for their safety.

ASIS International. (2005) Workplace Violence and Prevention Response. Alexandria, VA

7

NON-FATAL WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

8

Non-Fatal Workplace Assaults

Average 33,000 incidents of Workplace Violence per week in America

Majority are simple assaults

Of all violent crimes, 18% occurred at work

NIOSH, 1992-1999 BJS, National Crime Victimization Survey

NON-FATAL WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

9

Each year 1.7 million workers fell victim to non-fatal workplace violence

Non-fatal violent crime = simple or aggravated assault, robbery, or rape/sexual assault

95% of these 1.7 million incidents were simple assaults

RESEARCH IMPLICATIONS FOR WORKPLACE VIOLENCE

10

Knowledge of the scale of workplace violence remains incomplete

Not a consistent system of data collection or standardized or uniform definitions

Data regarding the less severe forms of workplace violence are particularly sparse

Data is also weak with respect to the economic and human costs of workplace violence and the effectiveness of known strategies

RESEARCH & PROGRAM TRENDS

Classification System (Type І, ІІ, ІІІ, ІV) (common to research reviews and programs)

Categorizes workplace violence incidents according to the relationship of the

perpetrator to the victim (not to be associated with our priority 4 rating scale) Can prove helpful to those seeking to

better understand the issue

Helpful in developing prevention and response strategies

11


Type І:

Offender has no legitimate relationship to the workplace or the victim and usually enters the workplace to commit a criminal action such as a robbery or theft.

This type also includes terrorist and hate crimes such as the World Trade Center and the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building attacks.

12


Type ІІ:

This offender is the recipient of some service provided by the victim or workplace and may be either a current or former client, patient, or customer.

13


Type ІІІ: This offender has an employment-related

involvement with the workplace.

The act of violence is usually committed by a current or former employee, supervisor, or manager who has a dispute with another employee of the workplace.

This type of workplace violence is usually referred to as the “disgruntled employee”.

14


Type ІV This offender has an indirect involvement with the workplace because of a relationship with an employee and may be a current or former spouse or partner, someone who was in a dating relationship with the employee, or a relative or friend.

Usually follows the employee into the workplace from the outside, however, the relationship could have workplace origins as well.

15National Victim Assistance Academy (2002). Workplace Violence. Chapter 22. Participants’ Resource Guide. U.S. Department of Justice.

16

We take pause to honor and

remember those postal

employees whom we have

lost to the hands of violence.

Memorial in Edmond, Oklahoma

HISTORICAL PERSEPCTIVE

17

National Headlines from USPS History

The next few slides present a limited chronology of workplace violence incidents and/or fatalities

The list is not intended to be a comprehensive report or record, the intent is to review a number of incidents that tended to capture local and/or national headlines

These slides also provide a backdrop for discussion of stories and impact from individuals of what might be their own experience

Note: Facilitator can use the supplemental presentation that provides a brief description as to the listed incidents


18


YEAR LOCATION VIOLENCE TOLL

2006 Baker City, OR 1 postal worker killed

2006 Goleta, CA6 postal workers killed, 1 suicide (previous employee)

2002 Kearny, NJ 1 postal worker killed, 3 wounded

1998 Dallas, TX 1 postal worker killed

1997 Milwaukee, WI1 postal worker killed, 2 wounded, 1 suicide

1997 Denver, CO 7 postal workers held hostage

1997 Miami Beach, FL1 civilian killed, 1 civilian wounded, 1 suicide

1996 Las Vegas, NV 1 postal worker killed

1996 Paterson, NJ 1 supervisor wounded by employee


19



1995 Palatine, IL 2 postal workers wounded by co-worker

1995 City of Industry, CA 1 postal worker killed

1995 Montclair, NJ 4 customers killed, 1 wounded

1993 Dearborn, MI2 postal workers killed, 2 wounded, 1 suicide

1993 Dana Point, CA1 postal worker killed, 1 wounded & 1 civilian (mother) killed, 4 wounded

1992 Citrus Heights, CA 1 postal worked suicide in post office

1991 Royal Oak, MI4 postal killed, 6 wounded, 1 suicide, 3 civilians shot

1991 Ridgewood, NJ 3 postal workers killed, 1 civilian killed


20



1989 Escondido, CA2 postal workers killed, 1 civilian killed, 1 suicide

1989 Boston, MA Post office sprayed with automatic rifle

1989 Poway, CA 1 postal worked killed himself in post office

1988 New Orleans, LA 1 postal worker killed, 3 wounded, 1 blinded

1988 Chelsea, MA 1 postal worker killed

1986 Edmond, OK14 postal workers killed, 6 wounded, 1 suicide

1985 New York, NY 1 postal worker wounded

1985 Atlanta, GA 1 postal worker wounded, 2 killed

1983 Anniston, AL 1 postal worker wounded, 1 killed

1983 Johnston, SC 2 postal workers wounded, 1 killed

WORKPLACE HOMICIDE

Over the last decade, the number of deaths have declined steadily

Peaked in 1994 at 1,080 deaths

There were 551 workplace homicides in 2004 (the most recent year for which data is available at this

update, statistics updated yearly through refresher)

551 is a 13% decline from 2003, and a sharp decline from a record high of 1,080 in 1994 (These figures exclude the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks)

21

WORKPLACE HOMICIDE

22

10801036

927860

714651 677

643609 632

559 564

50

250

450

650

850

1050

1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

1994 - 2005

WORKPLACE HOMICIDE

23

While there was a decline in the rates of occupational homicide for the

health services and public administration industries, this decline

was not as great as the overall decline in occupational homicide

rates

Trend Line (1994 – 2005) Facts

Jenkins, L. Trends in workplace homicide, U.S., 1993-2002. The 7th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, Vienna, Austria, June 6th-9th 2004. Vienna, Austria: Kuratorium für Schutz und Sicherheit/Institut Sicher Leben, 2004 Jun; :342

WORKPLACE HOMICIDE

24

When looking at the circumstance of the homicide, only homicides which

were robbery related has demonstrated a significant decline


WORKPLACE HOMICIDE

25

Neither the circumstances of violence by disgruntled customers/clients,

disgruntled workers/former workers, nor domestic violence demonstrated a significant decline in the number of occupational homicides during this

period


Hendricks, S. Anderson, K. Jenkins, L. (2005). Trends in rates of occupational homicides, 2005 National Injury Prevention and Control Conference, May 9-11, 2005, Denver, Colorado. Atlanta,

GA: Centers and Disease Control and Prevention, 2005 May; :105 (for slides 20, 21, & 22)

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ISWORKPLACE VIOLENCE

In the case of domestic violence, often what starts at home is completed at work

For employees being stalked, the workplace is the one location where the victim can

usually be found

Employees can change phone numbers and move, but most can’t switch jobs to avoid a stalker

Must also consider if the stalker/abuser is a postal employee as well, in the same

facility/station, on the same shift, etc.Kaufer, S. & Mattman, J. (2001) ‘Workplace Violence, A Manager’s Guide’,

Workplace Violence Research Institute, Palm Springs, CA. 26

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

As the statistics below show, employers can no longer consider domestic violence a private matter. It is a serious workplace issue that affects a company’s bottom line.

17% of women murdered at work are killed by their batterer 60,000 incidents of workplace violence involved

intimate partners 74 - 96% of victims are harassed at work by their batterer 50% of victims missed an average of 3 work days per

month due to abuse 30 - 44% of victims lost at least one job due to abuse Domestic violence cost businesses between $3 - 5 billion annually

27

VIOLENCE IN AMERICA

Contributing Factors Why Violence May Occur:

Societal Factors: drugs and alcohol availability of guns externalized blame reactions to diversity social disconnectedness economic downturn media glorification of violence violence themed video games and music

28

VIOLENCE IN AMERICA


Organizational Factors: job overload high stress environment reorganization, restructure poor labor / management relations poor or changing management styles poor hiring practices inadequate security no response to inappropriate behavior no employee counseling (EAP)

29

VIOLENCE IN AMERICA


Personal Factors: family / marital problems financial problems domestic problems drug and/or alcohol abuse loss of job, raise or promotion loss of relationship misdirected affections unmanaged stress

30

SKETCH OF SOCIAL TRENDS

31

Increase in Societal Tolerance of Violence Acceptance of violence as a form of communication (This first statement is a strong statement. Take some time for discussion. How do you see violence perceived pre- and post- 9/11? What about global implications?)

Increased accessibility to weapons

Less Control Over Work Environment Lack of careers, commitment, loyalty Job vs. career

Downsizing, Re-engineering Do more with less Loss of middle management

SKETCH OF SOCIAL TRENDS

32

Substance Abuse

Psychological Factors Increasing stress Breakdown of support systems Nuclear families Extended families Sense of neighborhood/community

Change Increasing pace of change Particularly organizational/work change Insatiable electronic media demands (24/7 news, internet)

CALIFANO COMMISSION ROLE

PMG Henderson charged the commission to detail concrete steps for the Post Office to make the safest possible environment for all its employees

Conducted the most comprehensive survey ever conducted of

workplace violence in our nation

33

CALIFANO COMMISSION ROLE Bottom Line Conclusions:

“Going Postal” is a myth, a bad rap. Postal workers are no more likely to physically assault, sexually harass, or verbally abuse their co-workers than employees in the national workforce

Postal employees are only one third as likely as those in the national workforce to be victims of homicide at work

The level of violence throughout the American workplace is unacceptably high; in the year before

the study was released – 1 in 20 workers was physically assaulted, 1 in 6 was sexually

harassed, and 1 in 3 was verbally abused34


35

Three Highest Industrial Homicide Rates (National Comparison):

Retail Stores

Public Administration (including police)

Transportation/Mass Transit


36

0.260.50

0.77

1.321.66

2.10

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

Workplace Homicide Rates By IndustryWorkplace Homicide Rates By IndustryPer 100,000 workers annually, 1992-98


USPS Workplace Homicides 1986-2005

Of 30 incidents:

16 were perpetrated by postal employees

14 perpetrated by non-postal employees

55 killed, including 49 postal employees

34 were murdered by current or former co-workers

37


National Workforce Demographics

Risk of Victimization: Highest Risk

Men 3 times more likely than women

Incidence rate rises with age

Higher for those 65 and older

African Americans are twice as likely as Caucasians

38


USPS Workplace Homicides 1986-2005

Of the homicides perpetrated by postal employees 14 out of 16 had:

violent histories

mental illness

substance abuse

and/or criminal convictions

39


Comparison to National Workforce

Postal employees scored as:

less angry

less aggressive

less hostile

less depressed

less stressed

than those in the national workforce40


41

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

Fly Off TheHandle

TroubleControlling

Temper

FriendsThink

"Hothead"

Flare UpQuickly

Am EvenTempered

USPS

NationalWorkforce

Anger: USPS vs. national workforceAnger: USPS vs. national workforce

18%

7%3%

25%

6%4% 7%4%

75%69%



Postal employees:

have more negative attitudes about work, co-workers, and management

believe they are more likely to be a victim of workplace violence

greatest fears involve other co-workers

42



Although postal workers are one-third less likely than the national workforce to be victims of violence at work, postal workers express six times more fear of becoming a victim than non-postal employees.

43


17%

3%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

% EmployeesExpressing Fear of

WPV

USPS

NationalWorkforce


44

Believe likelier than average worker to be victim of Believe likelier than average worker to be victim of co-worker violenceco-worker violence

0.26

0.77

0.00

0.50

1.00

1.50

2.00

Incidence ofWorkplace

Homicides per100,000

USPS

NationalWorkforce



Postal workers are:

Six times more likely to believe they are at greater risk

What do you believe may be behind this perception that is not based on actual facts?

45



Postal workers are:

less likely to agree that their employer takes action to protect them

more likely to say they fear being robbed or attacked

more likely to agree that management tries to provoke employees to violence

46


Postal workers are no more likely than those in the national workforce to:

physically assault

sexually harass or

verbally abuse their co-workers

47


48

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Physical Assault Sexual Harassment Verbal Abuse

USPS

NationalWorkforce

Victimization by coworkersVictimization by coworkers

12%

3%

25%

4%

14%

30%

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Workplace violence is now recognized as a specific category of violent crime that calls for distinct responses from employers, law enforcement, and the community.

This recognition is relatively recent. Prior to the Edmond shootings, the few research and preventive efforts that existed were focused on particular issues – ……….

49

National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. (2002). Workplace violence: issues in response. Critical Incident Response Group. FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

50

Watson, Eleanor Lynn (2006). Active inaction-symbolic politics, agenda denial or incubation period: twenty years of U.S. workplace violence research and prevention activity, Dissertation, West Virginia University, [On-line Abstract].

The first national data on the incidence of workplace homicide was published by NIOSH in 1989.

This publication demonstrated on a national basis that homicide was the third leading cause of occupational injury death, exceeded only by motor vehicle crashes and machine related deaths.

This document also identified that homicide was the leading cause of injury death for women in the workplace. Prior to this publication, homicide had not been seriously regarded as an occupational health and safety issue.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION

Mass murder on the job by disgruntled employees are media-intensive events. However, these mass murders, while serious, are relatively infrequent events.

It is the threats, harassment, bullying, domestic violence, stalking, emotional abuse, intimidation, and other forms of behavior and physical violence that, if left unchecked, may result in more serious violent behavior.

These are the behaviors that supervisors and managers have to deal with every day.

51

National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. (2002). Workplace violence: issues in response. Critical Incident Response Group. FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

YOU HAVE COMPLETED THE INTRODUCTION

MODULE

52

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