WORKPLACE VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM

ZERO TOLERANCE ON WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
PREVENTION PROGRAM

Table of Contents

1.0	INTRODUCTION
2.0	RESPONSIBILITY
3.0	CLASSIFICATIONS OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE
4.0	CSUN's WORKPLACE VIOLENCE COMPLIANCE PROGRAM
5.0	PROGRAM COMMUNICATION
6.0	HAZARD ASSESSMENT
7.0	INCIDENT INVESTIGATIONS
8.0	HAZARD CORRECTION
9.0	TRAINING, INSTRUCTION AND OTHER INFORMATION
10.0	RECORD KEEPING
Appendix I: ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY ON CAMPUS VIOLENCE

1.0

Introduction:

Many workplaces are at risk for workplace violence and, unfortunately, a University environment is not immune. California State University Northridge is committed to preventing workplace violence, and ensuring a safe and healthful work environment for all members of the University community. Certain campus workplace situations are recognized as presenting significantly greater risks than others. Therefore, every campus office or department should perform an initial assessment to identify its particular workplace security issues. If that initial assessment determines that University employees are at a significant risk for workplace violence, then the responsible manager or supervisor should review the material presented in this Workplace Security Program.

There are a number of factors that have been shown to contribute to the risk of violence in a University workplace. If one or more of the following situations or activities is present in your workplace, then you should consider your workplace to be at potential risk of violence:

•	Exchange of money.
•	Performing campus Public Safety functions.
•	Working alone at night and during early morning hours.
•	Working with patients, clients, customers or students known or suspected to have a history of violence.
•	Availability of valued items, e.g., money and jewelry.
•	Employees, including former employees, with a history of assaults or who exhibit belligerent, intimidating or threatening behavior to others.
•	Employees, including former employees, with a history of assaults or who exhibit belligerent, intimidating or threatening behavior to others.
These are just some of the major factors that can contribute to workplace violence in a University environment. If you have identified any of these, or other indicators of violence in the workplace, then a further evaluation should be performed.


2.0	Responsibility:
	At California State University Northridge, authority and responsibility for implementing the provisions of this Injury and Illness Prevention Program For Workplace Security have been assigned to the Workplace Violence Program Administrator identified below:
	Director, Public Safety (818) 677-2201 (818) 677-2111 (24 hour Police Dispatch)
	All managers and supervisors are responsible for implementing and maintaining this Workplace Violence Program in their work areas and for answering employee questions about the Program. A copy of this Workplace Violence Program is available from each manager and supervisor.

3.0

Workplace Violence in California:

Cal-OSHA has classified the circumstances associated with workplace violence into three major types. All three types exist to varying degrees in a typical campus environment. However, it is important to keep in mind that a particular University workplace, situation, activity or personnel classification may be subject to more than one type.

Type I Violence:

A Type I workplace violence event occurs when an individual enters the workplace specifically to commit a criminal act. While the assailant may feign being a consumer of University goods or services as a pretext to enter a campus building, office or department, he or she has no legitimate relationship to the workplace.

University employees who have face-to-face contact and exchange money with the public, who work late at night and into the early morning hours, and who often work alone or in very small numbers are at greatest risk of a Type I event.

At California State University Northridge, the following areas have been identified as being particularly susceptible to Type I workplace violence:

•	Parking Areas
•	Loading Docks
•	First-Floor Restrooms
•	Cash-handling Offices
•	Campus Bookstore
•	Food Service Areas
•	Credit Union
•	Concerts, Dances, Athletic Areas and Events

Type II Violence:

A Type II workplace violence event involves an assault or threat by someone who is either the recipient or the object of a service provided by a workplace or employee.

Type II events involve both fatal and nonfatal injuries to University individuals who provide goods or services to the public (i.e., students, community members, visitors). These events chiefly involve threats, intimidation or assaults on Public Safety personnel, health care and social service providers, faculty, sales personnel, and other University employees who provide professional, public safety, administrative or business services to the public.

At California State University Northridge, the following areas have been identified as particularly susceptible to Type II workplace violence:

•	Student Affairs Office
•	Public Safety (e.g., parking violations)
•	Academic Affairs Office
•	Administrative Offices
•	Food Service Areas
•	Auxiliary Services / Extended Education
•	Visitors / Information Desk
•	President's Office
•	Library

Type III Violence:

A Type III workplace violence event consists of an assault by an individual who has some employment-related involvement with the workplace. A Type III event usually involves a threat of violence, or a physical act of violence resulting in a fatal or nonfatal injury, by a current or former University employee, supervisor or manager; a current or former spouse or lover; a relative or friend; or some other person who has a personal dispute involving an employee of the workplace.

A Type III event is not associated with a specific type of University workplace or occupation. Any campus workplace can be at risk for a Type III event.

At California State University Northridge, the following areas have been identified as particularly susceptible to Type III workplace violence:

•	All Administrative Offices
•	University Buildings & Grounds
•	Parking Areas
•	President's Office
•	Athletic Areas & Events

4.0

CSUN's Workplace Violence Compliance Program:

California State University Northridge has established the following policy to ensure compliance with campus rules on workplace security.

All University employees are responsible for using safe work practices, for following all directives, policies and procedures and for assisting in maintaining a safe and secure work environment.

California State University Northridge's program for ensuring that all University employees, including supervisors and managers, comply with work practices that are designed to make the workplace more secure, and do not engage in threats or physical actions which create a security hazard for others in the workplace, includes:

•	Informing employees, supervisors and managers of the provisions of California State University Northridge's Workplace Violence Program for Workplace Security, and its "Zero Tolerance" policy for workplace violence, including threats of physical harm and intimidation. A copy of California State University Northridge's "Zero Tolerance" policy appears as Appendix 1.
•	Evaluating the performance of all employees in complying with the University's workplace security measures.
•	Recognizing employees who perform work practices which promote security in the workplace.
•	Providing training and/or counseling to employees whose performance is deficient in complying with work practices designed to ensure workplace security.
•	Disciplining employees for repeated failure to comply with workplace security practices.

5.0

Communication:

At California State University Northridge, we recognize that to maintain a safe, healthy and secure workplace we must have open, two-way communication between all employees, including managers and supervisors, on all workplace safety, health and security issues. California State University Northridge has a communication policy designed to encourage a continuous flow of safety, health and security information between University management and the campus community without fear of reprisal or ridicule, and in a form that is readily understandable. California State University Northridge's Communication Policy consists of the following items:

•	New employee orientation on California State University Northridge's workplace security policies, procedures and work practices.
•	Periodic review of the California State University Northridge Workplace Violence Program for Workplace Security with all campus personnel.
•	Training programs designed to address specific aspects of workplace security unique to this campus.
•	Regularly scheduled safety meetings with all personnel, including workplace security discussions.
•	A system to ensure that all University employees, including managers and supervisors, understand and observe the workplace security policies.
•	Posted or distributed workplace security information.
•	A policy encouraging campus employees to inform University management promptly about workplace security hazards or threats of violence.
•	Procedures for protecting members of the University community who report physical violence or threats from retaliation by the person engaging in such conduct.
•	Addressing campus security issues at workplace security meetings.

6.0

Hazard Assessment:

California State University Northridge performs workplace hazard assessment for workplace security in the form of periodic inspections to identify and evaluate workplace security hazards and threats of workplace violence.

Periodic inspections are performed according to the following schedule:

•	When California State University Northridge initially established this Workplace Violence Program for Workplace Security;
•	When new, previously unidentified security hazards are recognized;
•	When occupational injuries or threats of injury occur; and
•	Whenever workplace security conditions warrant an inspection.

Periodic inspections for security hazards consist of identification and evaluation of workplace security hazards and changes in employee work practices, and may require assessment for more than one type of workplace violence. California State University Northridge performs inspections for each type of workplace violence by using the methods specified below to identify and evaluate workplace security hazards.

Inspections for Type I workplace security hazards include assessing:

•	The exterior and interior of the campus facilities for their attractiveness to robbers and other criminal activity.
•	The need for security surveillance measures, such as mirrors, motion detectors, enhanced lighting or cameras.
•	Posting of signs notifying the public that limited cash is kept on the premises.
•	Procedures for employee response during a robbery or other criminal act.
•	Procedures for reporting suspicious persons or activities.
•	Posting of emergency telephone numbers for University law enforcement and for local fire and medical services where employees have access to a telephone with an outside line.
•	Limiting the amount of cash on hand and using time access safes and other robbery deterrent measures.

Inspections for Type II workplace security hazards include assessing:

•	Access to, and freedom of movement within, the workplace.
•	Adequacy of workplace security systems, such as door locks, security windows, physical barriers and restraint systems.
•	Frequency and severity of threatening or hostile situations that may lead to violent acts by persons who receive goods or services from the campus.
•	Employees' skill in safely handling threatening or hostile service situations.
•	Effectiveness of systems and procedures to warn others of a campus security danger or to summon assistance, e.g., alarms or panic buttons.
•	The use of work practices such as "buddy" systems for specified emergency events.
•	The availability of employee escape routes.

Inspections for Type III workplace security hazards include assessing:

•	How well California State University Northridge's violence prevention policy has been communicated to employees, supervisors and managers.
•	How well University management and the campus community communicate with each other.
•	University employees', supervisors' and managers' knowledge of the warning signs of potential workplace violence.
•	Access to, and freedom of movement within, the workplace by non-employees, including recently discharged employees or persons with whom a campus employee is having a dispute.
•	Frequency and severity of University employee reports of threats of physical or verbal abuse by managers, supervisors, subordinates or other employees.
•	Any prior violent acts, threats of physical violence, verbal abuse, property damage or other signs of strain or pressure in the workplace.
•	Employee disciplinary and discharge procedures.

7.0

Incident Investigations:

California State University Northridge has established the following procedures for investigating incidents of workplace violence, including threats of physical injury:

•	Reviewing all previous incidents.
•	Visiting the scene of an incident as soon as possible.
•	Interviewing threatened or injured employees and witnesses.
•	Examining the workplace for security risk factors associated with the incident, including any previous reports of inappropriate behavior by the perpetrator.
•	Determining the cause of the incident.
•	Taking corrective action to prevent the incident from recurring.
•	Recording the findings and corrective actions taken.

8.0

Hazard Correction:

Hazards which threaten the security of University employees shall be corrected in a timely manner, based on severity when they are first observed or discovered.

Corrective measures for Type I workplace security hazards can include:

•	Making the workplace unattractive to robbers and thieves.
•	Using surveillance measures, such as cameras, motion detectors, enhanced lighting or mirrors, to provide information as to what is going on outside and inside the workplace.
•	Procedures for reporting suspicious persons or activities.
•	Posting of emergency telephone numbers for campus law enforcement and local fire and medical services where employees have access to a telephone with an outside line.
•	Posting of signs notifying the public that limited cash is kept on the premises.
•	Limiting the amount of cash on hand and using time access safes and other crime prevention measures.
•	Employee, supervisor and management training on emergency action procedures.

Corrective measures for Type II workplace security hazards can include:

•	Controlling access to the workplace and freedom of movement within it, consistent with business necessity.
•	Ensuring the adequacy of workplace security systems, such as door locks, security windows, physical barriers and restraint systems.
•	Providing employee training in recognizing and handling threatening or hostile situations that may lead to violent acts by persons who receive goods or services from the campus.
•	Placing effective systems to warn others of a security danger or to summon assistance, e.g., alarms or panic buttons.
•	Providing procedures for a "buddy" system for specified emergency events.
•	Ensuring adequate employee escape routes.

Corrective measures for Type III workplace security hazards can include:

•	Effectively communicating California State University Northridge's anti-violence policy to all employees, supervisors and managers, including its "zero tolerance" for acts or threats of violence or physical intimidation.
•	Continually assessing and improving how well California State University Northridge's management and employees communicate with each other.
•	Increasing awareness by University employees, supervisors and managers of the warning signs of potential workplace violence.
•	Controlling access to, and freedom of movement within, the workplace by non-employees, including recently discharged employees or persons with whom a University employee is having a dispute.
•	Providing counseling to employees, supervisors or managers who exhibit behavior that represents strain or pressure which may lead to physical or verbal abuse of co-employees.
•	Ensure that all reports of violent acts, threats of physical violence, verbal abuse, property damage, or other signs of strain are handled effectively by University management and that the person making the report is not subject to retaliation by the person making the threat, or ridicule by the person receiving the report.
•	Ensure that employee disciplinary and discharge procedures effectively and expeditiously address the potential for workplace violence.

9.0

Training, Instruction and Information:

California State University Northridge conducts the following training, instruction and information for all University employees with respect to workplace security.

All University employees, including managers and supervisors, shall be provided training and instruction on general and job-specific campus workplace security practices. Training and instruction shall be provided when the Workplace Violence Program is first established and periodically thereafter. Training and instruction shall also be provided to all new employees and to other employees for whom training has not previously been provided and to all employees, supervisors and managers given new job assignments for which specific workplace security training for that job assignment has not previously been provided. Additional training and instruction will be provided to all campus personnel whenever the University is made aware of new or previously unrecognized security hazards. Information on workplace security and safe work practices, including this Program, will be provided periodically and updated as necessary.

General campus workplace security training and instruction includes, but is not limited to, the following:

•	Explanation of the California State University Northridge Workplace Violence Program for Workplace Security including measures for reporting any violent acts or threats of violence.
•	Recognition of workplace security hazards, including the risk factors associated with the three types of workplace violence.
•	Measures to prevent workplace violence, including procedures for reporting workplace security hazards or threats to managers and supervisors.
•	Ways to defuse hostile or threatening situations.
•	Measures to summon others for assistance.
•	Notification to public safety when a criminal act may have occurred.
•	Emergency medical care provided in the event of any violent act upon a University employee; and
•	Post-event trauma counseling for those employees desiring such assistance.

In addition, California State University Northridge provides specific instructions to all campus employees regarding workplace security hazards unique to their job assignments, to the extent that such information was not already covered in other training.

California State University Northridge has chosen the following subjects for Type I training and instruction for managers, supervisors and employees:

•	Crime Awareness.
•	Location and operation of campus alarm systems.
•	Communication procedures.
•	Proper work practices for specific campus workplace activities, occupations or assignments.

California State University Northridge has chosen the following subjects for Type II training and instruction for managers, supervisors and employees:

•	Self-protection.
•	Dealing with angry, hostile or threatening individuals.
•	Location, operation, care, and maintenance of campus alarm systems and other protective devices.
•	Communication procedures.
•	Determination of when to use the "buddy" system or other assistance from CO-employees
•	Awareness of indicators that lead to violent acts by persons receiving campus goods or services.
•	Awareness of state laws (e.g., Penal Code) prohibiting disruption of a CSU campus, or the possession of weapons on campus.

California State University Northridge has chosen the following subjects for Type III training and instruction for managers, supervisors and employees:

•	Pre-employment screening practices.
•	Employee Assistance Programs.
•	Awareness of situation indicators that lead to violent acts.
•	Awareness of state laws (e.g., Penal Code) prohibiting disruption of a CSU campus, or the possession of weapons on campus.
•	Managing with respect and consideration for employee well-being.
•	Review of anti-violence policy and procedures.

10.0

Record Keeping:

California State University Northridge has taken the following steps to implement and maintain its Workplace Violence Program:

•	Records of University workplace security inspections, including the person(s) conducting the inspection, the unsafe conditions and work practices that have been identified and the action taken to correct the identified unsafe conditions and work practices, are recorded on a hazard assessment and correction form; and
•	Documentation of security training for each University employee, including the employee's name or other identifier, training dates, type(s) of training, and training providers.

Inspection records and training documentation are maintained for three years, except for training records of campus employees who have worked for less than one year, which are provided to the employee upon termination of employment.

10.1

Location of Records:

Records maintained by the University pursuant to its Injury and Illness Prevention Program For Workplace Security are kept at the University Police Department and under the control of the following University official:

Director of Public Safety
(818) 677-2201

Appendix I: Zero Tolerance Policy on Campus Violence:

California State University Northridge is committed to creating and maintaining a working, learning, and social environment for all members of the University community which is free from violence.

Civility, understanding, and mutual respect toward all members of the University community are intrinsic to excellence in teaching and learning, to the existence of a safe and healthful workplace, and to maintenance of a campus culture and environment which serves the needs of the many constituencies which support it. Threats of violence or acts of violence not only impact the individuals concerned, but also the mission of the University to foster higher education through open dialogue and the free exchange of ideas. The University prohibits and will take decisive action to eliminate verbal harassment, violent acts, threats of violence, or any other behavior which by intent, action, or outcome harms another person. Such conduct is subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal from employment, expulsion from the University, or civil or criminal prosecution as appropriate.

The University has zero tolerance for violence against members of the University community. To fulfill this policy, the University will work to prevent violence from occurring and will ensure that federal and state laws, as well as University regulations prohibiting violence, are fully enforced. In determining whether conduct constitutes a credible threat or act of violence, the circumstances surrounding the conduct will be considered.

Established University faculty, staff, and student and Department of Public Safety procedures will serve as the mechanisms for resolving situations of violence or threats of violence. Each allegation of violence or threat of violence will be taken seriously. Individuals are encouraged to report acts of violence, threats of violence, or any other behavior which by intent, act or outcome harms another person.