| Contrary to popular belief, workplace violence | | | | - Tackling or being wrestled to the ground |
| does not always involve one employee attacking | | | | - Being punched, kicked, and even bitten |
| another. Another popular misconception is that a | | | | - Confrontations with customers armed with guns, |
| workplace violence incident must occur within your | | | | knives, clubs... ...and even dropping |
| company's walls for it to be considered such. | | | | scalding hot water and other objects on them |
| But, the reality is that, the opposite is often true | | | | from a window above where they're working! |
| in many cases! | | | | In today's world, especially in these trying times, |
| Put these two misconceptions together and you | | | | workplace violence isn't just something that |
| will see that there is a group of workers who | | | | happens "every now and then." Violence in the |
| often go without the necessary training to be | | | | workplace is an everyday occurrence. |
| protected against violence on the job. And these | | | | With 17 to 20 employees being murdered every |
| employees are - utility workers! | | | | week on the job, and another 18,000 people a |
| In fact, utility workers, especially those performing | | | | year being beaten, raped, robbed, or otherwise |
| disconnection duties, are among those most-often | | | | assaulted, the likelihood of one of your employees |
| attacked on the job! If you can see how these | | | | being attacked is not a possibility - it's a given! |
| service personnel are seen by non-paying | | | | Regardless of the "workplace," whether it be a |
| customers in the same light as "repo men" who | | | | hospital, factory, convenience store, office, or |
| are taking away something they need - you will | | | | even a customer's home... |
| see why it is vitally important to implement | | | | ...employees - including utility workers - should be |
| training that will protect the utility worker from | | | | trained in at least basic self defense strategies |
| the threat of workplace violence attacks! | | | | that would allow them to defuse, de-escalate, |
| I have spoken to workers and consultants in the | | | | escape from or defend themselves against a |
| utility field and they all agree that the number of | | | | violent attack! |
| attacks on utility workers is on a level that most | | | | If you are serious about getting effective self |
| people couldn't even imagine. | | | | defense training for yourself and your employees, |
| Some of the types of attacks on utility workers | | | | then I recommend that you begin by reading the |
| include: | | | | new report called, "Attack-Proof Your Facility! |