Navigating Threat Assessment in the Workplace: the Role of EAPs in Workplace Safety

Abstract

As the number and frequency of workplace violence incidents have steadily increased over the past several years, the risk of workplace violence has become a real danger that challenges employees and organizations to assess and manage on a regular basis. Within some industries, the daily threat of experiencing some form of workplace violence is all too real for many employees. In addition, recognizing the signs of potential threats to workplace safety can often be confusing and complex. Due to their unique position within organizations, EAPs have opportunities to assist with assessing, intervening, and preventing incidents of workplace violence. EAPs also have opportunities to support an organization’s effort at building a culture of workplace violence prevention, including the formation of supportive safety policies and participating on threat assessment and management teams.

Learning Objectives: 1). Participants will gain knowledge of the basic principles of threat assessment when evaluating a potential risk of workplace violence. 2). Participants will demonstrate the ability to identify critical warning signs indicative of potential workplace violence. 3). Participants will explore relevant clinical and organizational interventions that EAPs can utilize as a means of supporting efforts of workplace safety and violence prevention.