what can employers do to help protect their employees?

As an employer, you should establish a zero-tolerance policy toward workplace violence against or by your employees. Incorporate a workplace violence prevention program into your existing accident prevention program. Include it in your employee handbooks and standard operating procedure manuals. Be sure to train all your employees in your policy. They need to understand that all claims of workplace violence will be investigated and remedied promptly. Other considerations may include:Â Review workers' safety in isolated work areas, high crime districts, individual employees working alone, cash transactions, late night and early morning activities. Those workers are at increased risk. Â Consult with local police or security experts to secure your office, equipment and workplace. Â Keep your equipment properly maintained, and provide employees with cell phone or alarm sounding devices. Â Prepare daily work plans and keep informed of employees' whereabouts throughout the day or shift. Â Provide safety education for employees so they know what conduct is not acceptable. Â Train employees in what to do if they witness or are subjected to workplace violence and how to protect themselves. ÂInstruct employees not to enter locations where they feel unsafe. Introduce a buddy system or provide police and additional security if required.