"DYING TO WORK" PART III: IDENTIFYING PERPETRATORS There are five sources of workplace violence perpetrators: 1. The disgruntled or former worker. 2. Robberies and miscellaneous crimes. 3. Irate customer or client. 4. Romantic Obsession. 5. Random acts of violence. According to a study conducted by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the percentage of workplace violence incidents that occur are: Physical Altercations - 75% Shootings - 17% Stabbings - 8% Sexual Assaults - 6% Physical Altercations are broken down into three categories: Employee to Employee - 54% Employee to Customer - 13% Customer to Employee - 7% Identifying potential perpetrators of workplace violence is done by evaluating the person's past and present behavior and other stress factors. Certain types of behavior and stress factors are indicators of potential violence. When these indicators are combined, they form a Profile. While Profiles are effective, they are not infallible. I. History Combining a person's behavior with stress factors creates their past History. Some of this information can be found in personnel files or in medical, military or criminal records. Much of this information may be confidential or protected by law. But sometimes, potential perpetrators volunteer information about themselves to co-workers, supervisors or others. If this information is reported and handled sensibly it can play a key role in avoiding a tragic incident. A. History Risk Indicators are: 1. An Unstable Homelife. 2. Divorce. 3. Alcoholism. 4. Unemployment. 5. Domestic Violence. 6. Physical or Sexual Abuse. 7. Fascination with Weapons. B. Psychological Problems A high percentage of people who commit workplace violence have had some type of mental problem(s). 1. Psychotic. Someone who is out of touch with reality; often manifested by outlandish dress or behavior. 2. Paranoid Schizophrenic. Someone who may have hallucinations and may be told by some imaginary person to act violently. 3. Delusional Paranoid Disorder. Someone who may become enraged by the use of a specific word or topic. 4. Paranoid Personally Disorder. Someone who is chronically angry and has a propensity to act out that anger. People who suffer from these types of psychological disorders begin to see the people around them as things instead of human beings. The impulse to destroy these "things" is sometimes what motivates people to commit acts of violence. C. Physical Problems Physical problems which effect behavior are referred to as organic pathology. Some examples of organic pathology would be a brain tumor or severe injury to the spinal chord. These types of physical problems can sometimes create changes in a person's mood or emotions causing them to commit acts of violence. II. Behavioral Risk Indicators A. Co-Workers 1. Verbal Threats of Any Kind. 2. Talk about "Getting Even" for disciplinary action or termination. 3. A patter of Intimidating or Threatening Behavior. 4. Frequent Anger or Defensiveness. 5. Obsession with Weapons. 6. Bringing Weapons to Work. 7. Substance Abuse or Alcoholism. 8. Fascination with other Workplace Violence events,Homicide or Suicide. 9. Unusual and changed behavior. (a) A person who is loud suddenly quits talking (b) The introverted individual suddenly becomes an extrovert. (c) Concentration and memory loss. (d) Angry outbursts. (e) Irritability and Impatience. (f) Chronically blaming others for lack of success in the workplace or in life. (g) Angry interior dialogues (mumbling or angrily talking to themselves). (h) Severe Depression. (i) Sudden changes in personal hygiene. For example, someone who is always dressed neatly suddenly begins to look unkempt. (j) Resistant to talking. (k) Fist shaking or pounding. (l) Door Slamming. (m) Showing a Weapon. (n) Threatening Language. B. Customers 1. Abusive Language. 2. Extreme Rage because of perceived slow service, poor product quality or lack of information. 3. Threats of any kind, directed at: a. Employees. b. Supervisors. c. Management. d. The Company. 4. Notice the Customers. a. Are their pupil's dilated? b. Are they being mechanical? c. Are they carrying something bulky? d. Are they acting suspicious? C. Strangers 1. Suspicious Appearance. 2. Incongruous or unusual dress, grooming or behavior. 3. Loitering in areas where they don't belong. 4. Lack of identification or ID badges. 5. Threats of any kind, directed at: a. Employees. b. Supervisors. c. Management. d. The Company. 6. Romantic Obsession. To accurately assess a person's Violence Potential, their Risk Indicators have to be weighed against their Stability Indicators. I. Risk Indicators A. Previous threats and threatening action. B. Fascination, recent purchase or use of guns or other types of weapons. C. A violent past history. D. A history of serious psychological problems. E. Fascination with violent movies, books or publicized acts of violence. F. Evidence of substance abuse or alcoholism. G. Serious stress. H. Continual excuses or blaming others. I. Unshakable depression. J. Attendance changes. K. Excessive demands for supervisor's, manager's or union steward's time. L. Decreased productivity. M. Inconsistent work pattern. N. Poor job relationships. O. Voluntary isolation or shunning by co-workers. P. Concentration problems. Q. Confusion. R. Negligence regarding safety issues. S. Poor health and hygiene. T. Unusual and changed behavior. U. An overall deterioration of personal and professional life. II. Stability Indicators A. Honorable Discharge from Military Service. B. Higher level of Education. C. Belonging to socially acceptable groups or organizations. D. A balanced religious and/or moral philosophy. E. Intact Family. F. Positive role models within the family. G. A future orientation: hope and belief in the future. H. Self-activating behavior. I. Ability to accept responsibility. III. Toxic Workplace A work environment that is more conducive to workplace violence is sometimes referred to as a "toxic workplace." These work environments are usually characterized by: A. Chronic labor and/or management disputes. B. Frequent grievances filed by employees. C. An extraordinary number of injury claims. D. Under-staffing or excessive demands on employees. E. Autocratic management. F. Employees who feel they are treated unfairly and/or are shown no respect. IV. Triggering Events Triggering events are the stress factors that push the potential perpetrator over the edge. A. Co-workers. 1. At Work: a. Demotion. b. Lack of Promotion. c. Poor Performance Review. d. Disciplinary Action. e. Discharge. f. Confrontation of some kind. g. Domestic problem brought into the workplace. 2. At Home: a. Extreme Financial Problems. b. Estrangement. c. Divorce. d. A New Baby. e. Sudden or Worsened Family Crisis. f. Medical Problems. B. Customers. 1. Discourteous or Poor Service. 2. Poor Product Quality. 3. Unfair Treatment. C. Strangers. 1. Valuables in Plain Sight. 2. People working Alone. 3. Lack of Security or Access Control. 4. Insufficient Lighting. 5. Availability of Hiding Areas where crimes can be conducted without Detection. 6. Desire for Revenge. 7. Crime of Hatred or Jealousy. Remember, THE PERSON + THE ENVIRONMENT + THE TRIGGERING EVENT = CRITICAL INCIDENT. By recognizing appropriate risk indicators and reporting them, a critical incident can frequently be avoided.