| "I'm afraid that if I add self defense training to | | | | plans when they've never had, and don't expect |
| my workplace violence training program, I'll have a | | | | to have to worry about, a fire! |
| bigger problem with violence from my | | | | 3) De-escalation Tactics. All employees should be |
| employees!" | | | | trained in verbal and non-verbal communications |
| This is a common concern from managers, | | | | methods, as well as other strategies that serve |
| administrators, and business owners that I hear all | | | | to bring a workplace violence situation under |
| the time. I can understand where this concern | | | | control before it becomes physical and people |
| comes from. It comes from the belief that self | | | | start getting hurt. |
| defense is "fighting." And yet, nothing could be | | | | As you can see, a well thought-out workplace |
| further from the truth! | | | | violence training policy can include self defense |
| Unfortunately, the term "self defense" is as | | | | training that has nothing to do with teaching your |
| over-used in our society as with other words like | | | | employees how to fight. While it is always |
| "warrior" and "enlighten." With every karate | | | | recommended that you be able to defend |
| school, fight club, and mixed martial arts gym | | | | yourself should you be physically attacked, you |
| advertising that they teach self defense training, | | | | and your employees don't have to train to be |
| it's easy for you and I to get confused about | | | | martial arts black belts or prize fighters! |
| where to actually find acceptable training in the | | | | Action is necessary and, in the case of violence in |
| skills to integrate into our workplace violence | | | | the workplace, prevention is often not enough! In |
| training program. | | | | the moment when an assailant is throwing raw, |
| As a way to help you to understand the | | | | unadulterated rage and destruction in your |
| difference between fighting and actual, real world | | | | direction, you will be left with one of 2 possibilities: |
| self defense training, here are 3 critically important | | | | * You will respond to the violence using |
| skills that should be a part of your workplace | | | | preplanned and practiced workplace violence |
| violence training program. | | | | defensive tactics that have been made a part of |
| 1) General & Situational Awareness Skills. | | | | your overall workplace violence policy and |
| Employees and management at all levels should | | | | procedures, or... |
| know, not only the generally accepted "warning | | | | * You will come face to face with the reality |
| signs," but also the most common threats that | | | | behind your denial, excuses, and lack of |
| your facility might be exposed to. Knowing | | | | preparation. |
| "where" the danger might come from is as | | | | But then, if you were living in denial, you wouldn't |
| important as "what" types of attacks you'll need | | | | be reading this article right now, would you? |
| to be able to defend yourself against. | | | | What if you could get this type of self defense |
| 2) Escape Tactics. Knowing how to avoid and | | | | training while also saving your organization from |
| evade gunfire, as well as other thrown objects | | | | the losses from lost-time, employee turn-over, |
| as-well-as being able to escape from a hostile | | | | legal liability, and negative PR that often arise out |
| area are critical in today's world. It's ironic how | | | | of incidents involving violence in the workplace. |
| often I hear arguments against the need for | | | | How? By instituting defensive training tactics that |
| workplace violence defensive tactics training | | | | both keeps you and your employees safe AND, |
| because, "that won't happen here." And yet, those | | | | at the same time, maintains a high level of |
| same managers have fire escape and emergency | | | | professionalism and liability control! |