OSHA Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist

Is the business in one of the industries that OSHA recognizes as a high-risk industry: healthcare and social assistance, correctional settings, late-night retail, or taxi and for hire services/public transportation?

Have workers experienced violent acts or threats of violence in the workplace such as the following: • by people who enter the workplace to commit a robbery or other crime • by customers, clients, patients, students, inmates, or any others to whom the employer provides services • by co-workers, former employees, managers/supervisors • by someone who does not have a relationship with the business but has a personal relationship with the victim?

Are workplace violence incidents identified in safety and health records, including the OSHA 300 log, first aid records, near-miss reports, workers’ compensation records, or insurance reports?

Has a worksite analysis identified workplace violence-related hazards?

Have workers, through conversations or surveys, raised concerns or identified incidents of workplace violence?

Is there a written program in place to prevent workplace violence, and is the program reviewed annually and updated as necessary?

Does management show commitment to preventing workplace violence and encourage worker involvement in all aspects of the workplace violence prevention program?

Are processes and procedures in place to continually identify workplace hazards and evaluate risks of workplace violence, including regular worksite and records analyses and threat assessments after nonemergency incidents?

Are processes, procedures, and controls implemented to eliminate or substantially reduce workplace violence hazards?

Are engineering controls (e.g., access to exits, physical barriers, and security technology such as panic buttons/alarm systems) and administrative controls (e.g., rules for interacting with clients, a system for tracking violent clients, protocols for calling security and/or the police) implemented?

Do all workers receive training on the workplace violence prevention program, including de-escalation techniques, what to do in an emergency, and their responsibilities under the program (e.g., incident response, reporting, and recordkeeping)?

Are accurate records of workplace violence incidents maintained and analyzed to determine what corrective actions are needed?

Is a "buddy system" in place so workers are not working alone, reducing the threat of violence and increasing the ability to call for assistance if an incident of violence occurs?

Can workers immediately request assistance when workplace violence is being threatened or occurring?