Workplace Violence Awareness Month:Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
In my 11 years of Law Enforcement (including 3 years with the FBI’s JTTF, 5 years in active military, and 7 years in corporate security, I’ve seen the ripple effect of workplace violence firsthand. I’ve been on the ground during active threat responses, walked leaders through post-incident recovery, and trained employees still rattled from what “could have been.”
Every time, the message is the same: “We didn’t think it would happen here.”
April is Workplace Violence Awareness Month, and this isn’t just a time for awareness—it’s a time for accountability. Because if you’re a leader—whether in healthcare, manufacturing, education, logistics, or finance—this issue is already on your doorstep. And the costs—human, operational, financial, and reputational—are rising.
What We’re Up Against: The Real State of Workplace Violence
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace violence caused over 20,050 injuries and 518 fatalities in 2022 alone. That’s an average of ten workplace homicides every week. Even more alarming is the trend: workplace violence has increased by over 25% in the last five years.
Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience violence than workers in any other private industry sector (OSHA).
A survey by the American College of Emergency Physicians found that 70% of ER doctors reported being physically assaulted at work in the last year.
In the education sector, the National Center for Education Statistics reported a 56% increase in school threats and violent incidents post-COVID.
Retail, logistics, and hospitality staff face daily exposure to angry customers, theft, and aggression, often with little training or support.
Yet even as incidents rise, many organizations lack structured plans to detect, de-escalate, and prevent violence before it occurs.
Understanding the Risk: Workplace Violence Takes Many Forms
Too often, workplace violence is associated exclusively with mass shootings or high-profile threats. But these tragic events represent just one extreme. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) defines workplace violence as “any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior.”
This includes:
Verbal abuse and threats
Harassment, bullying, or intimidation
Physical assault and battery
Domestic violence spillover
Stalking or targeted aggression
And it affects all industries. From the front desk receptionist threatened by a visitor to the factory supervisor assaulted during a shift dispute, to the nurse targeted by a patient’s family, these stories are happening every day.
Why Leaders Can’t Afford to Wait
Beyond moral responsibility, employers are now facing mounting legal and regulatory expectations. Under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, employers are required to provide a workplace “free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm.”
In practice, that means:
Identifying and mitigating known threats
Creating policies and training for violence prevention
Responding effectively when incidents do occur
Failing to do so not only puts lives at risk, it also creates liability.
According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), more than 40% of HR professionals report that their organization has experienced at least one workplace violence incident in the past year. And yet, fewer than 20% have a robust, regularly tested workplace violence prevention program.
The Legal Landscape Is Shifting
Several states are taking action. If you operate in one of the following regions, these updates are critical:
🏛️ California SB 553
Passed in 2023, this new law requires most employers to establish a written workplace violence prevention plan by July 1, 2024. Requirements include:
Employee training
Incident logging
Threat assessment procedures
Employee involvement in program development
🏛️ Washington State
Healthcare facilities are now required to implement formal Workplace Violence Prevention Programs, with annual training and environmental assessments.
🏛️ New York and Oregon
Have proposed legislation requiring employers in high-risk sectors (education, healthcare, public services) to implement formal prevention programs.
These legal trends are a signal: employers must move from reaction to readiness.
What’s at Stake: The Business and Human Costs
The average direct cost of a workplace violence incident can exceed $250,000, according to SHRM. This includes medical costs, legal fees, investigation expenses, and lost productivity.
But the indirect costs—employee turnover, reputation damage, lost contracts, and decreased morale—can be exponentially higher.
For example:
A manufacturing plant in the Midwest lost a key distribution contract after an internal assault made national news.
A hospital system in Texas faced a $1.2 million lawsuit from staff injured during a poorly handled violent incident.
A university suffered a 15% drop in enrollment following an on-campus threat incident shared widely on social media.
Workplace violence isn’t just a crisis—it’s a strategic risk.
How to Take Action This April
At WorldSafe, we work with organizations nationwide to build threat-informed cultures, reduce exposure, and meet evolving compliance needs. If you’re looking for a place to start, focus on these key pillars:
🔍 1. Conduct a Workplace Violence Risk Assessment
Identify internal and external threats
Analyze past incidents, near misses, and employee concerns
Evaluate physical layout and access control weaknesses
📑 2. Develop or Update Your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan
Include definitions, policies, responsibilities, and escalation procedures
Outline how to report, investigate, and track incidents
Make it accessible and easily understood by all staff
🎓 3. Implement Employee Training
Training should include:
Recognizing behavioral red flags
De-escalation and personal safety tactics
Response procedures during lockdowns or threats
Mandatory reporting and non-retaliation policies
We offer live and on-demand training tailored to industries like healthcare, education, logistics, and manufacturing.
🧠 4. Form a Threat Assessment Team
This cross-functional team should include HR, Security, Legal, and Operations, and meet regularly to review incidents, identify trends, and guide prevention strategy.
🚨 5. Run Tabletop Exercises and Emergency Drills
Don’t wait for a crisis to test your protocols. Rehearse with:
Lockdown simulations
Communication tree testing
Drill timing across shifts or departments
The Role of Technology in Prevention
Emerging security technology is playing a vital role in threat prevention. Solutions include:
AI-powered surveillance to detect behavioral anomalies
Gunshot detection systems with real-time response capabilities
Digital access control to prevent unauthorized entry
Mass communication platforms for rapid employee alerts
We help clients audit current systems and integrate smarter, more adaptive tools based on their environment.
WorldSafe’s Role: Building Real-World Resilience
Our Resilience-as-a-Service (RaaS) program is specifically designed to help organizations prepare, comply, and protect. Services include:
Annual Workplace Violence Risk Assessments
Resilience and safety product audits
Employee training and drills
On-demand incident response consulting
Business continuity and post-incident support
Fractional CSO advisory and compliance guidance
Through our annual WorldSafe Certification, clients demonstrate both internal readiness and external trust.
A Final Word: From the Field
I’ve been the officer standing at the edge of an active scene and SWAT sniper responding to critical incidents, and in Air Force EOD (Bomb Squad) for emergency response in crisis situations, training people on terror tactics and such. I’ve spoken with families and co-workers trying to make sense of the aftermath. I’ve consulted with leaders who say, “If only we had acted sooner.”
But I’ve also seen organizations that did act—and prevented harm, saved lives, and set new standards for readiness.
You don’t have to be perfect. But you do have to be prepared.
This Workplace Violence Awareness Month, take the step. Review your plan. Schedule your training. Ask the hard questions.
Because one day, someone’s safety—or life—might depend on the preparation you choose today.
Schedule a Free Risk Assessment or Workplace Violence Consultation
About the Author:
Jameson Ritter, CTM is a Senior Security and Workplace Violence Consultant at WorldSafe with over two decades of experience in law enforcement, crisis response, and organizational threat prevention. Jameson is also a Certified Threat Manager (CTM) certification from ATAP (one of fewer than 250 CTMs, globally). He also holds the ASIS "Triple Crown" of certifications: CPP, PSP, and PCI which are globally recognized. He advises leaders across education, healthcare, government, and private industry on how to reduce risk and respond with confidence.
✍️ By Jameson Ritter, Security Consultant, WorldSafe