PREVENTING THREATENING
OR VIOLENT SITUATIONS
An employer has a duty of care to all employees. This
duty does not guarantee staff safety but it does mean an
employer must take reasonable steps to ensure staff are
protected and safe from reasonably foreseeable dangers.
An employer is legally bound to carry out a ‘suitable and
sufficient’ risk assessment of the health and safety risks
to staff, of which employees must be made aware.
This depends on site specific circumstances, for example it is reasonable to
expect a security guard collecting large amounts of cash should be protected by
security equipment such as a security helmet and body protection.
Businesses should have a specific person responsible for carrying out risk
assessments.
A risk assessment should (at a minimum) follow these steps
 Identify the hazard (potential to cause harm to physical and / or mental health)

Decide who might be harmed and how

Evaluate the risks and decide on precautions

Record the findings

Revise and update the assessments periodically
Some practical considerations
 Assess the general building and work area design and layout to ensure safe
and secure conditions for employees

Question employees about what concerns they have in terms of health and
safety

Install suitable lighting systems for all indoor building areas, grounds and
parking areas

Arrange furniture in a way that helps to prevent staff from being trapped in a
threatening situation

Control access to employee work areas (locked doors, buzzers, card access)

Consider establishing a ‘place of safety’ for example a nearby office which
can be quickly locked in an emergency should a threatening situation develop

Provide ID cards for employees, sign in / out books and escort policies for
non-employees

Ensure employees can always communicate with each other in emergency
situations

Provide internal communication systems that enable employees to call for
assistance

Utilise CCTV which allows the monitoring of high risk areas

Inspect and maintain security equipment on a regular basis to ensure its
effectiveness

Ensure that adequate personnel are available to give prompt assistance

Develop and implement security procedures for employees working late or
away from the office

Provide staff with the relevant training

Role play various scenarios with staff to create a feeling of reality into
potential situations
A useful government guide for employees can be found at www.hse.gov.uk
Employee guidance to help prevent threatening or violent situations
 Try to defuse potentially aggressive action by showing empathy. It is better to
avoid escalating situations rather than deal with any heightened aggression
 Do not respond aggressively to customers / visitors as this will inflame the
situation
 Make sure your body language is not confrontational
 Assist the aggressor in the procedure involved in making a written complaint
and provide contact details they can act upon
 Do not patronise or make light of any problems
 Maintain good eye contact but ensure this does not appear confrontational
 Try to keep movements slow, steady and calm
 Respect personal space
 Avoid any expression of power
 Look to escape or request help at the first opportunity should the situation
escalate