Roland: There is a considerable amount of observation, analysis, publishing and training taking place around workplace violence. Although most of the information below is not new on the topic, I thought the FBI report that was published in the first quarter of this year had an interesting table describing the various “buckets” of workplace violence.

Behaviors of concern can help workers recognize potential problems with fellow employees. If a co-worker begins acting differently, determining the frequency, duration, and intensity of the new, and possibly troubling, behavior can prove helpful. Specific behaviors of concern that should increase vigilance for co-workers and supervisors include sadness, depression, threats, menacing or erratic behavior, aggressive outbursts, references to weaponry, verbal abuse, inability to handle criticism, hypersensitivity to perceived slights, and offensive commentary or jokes referring to violence.

Type I
Offender has no relationship with the victim or workplace establishment. In these incidents, the motive most often is robbery or another type of crime.

Type II
Offender currently receives services from the workplace, often as a customer, client, patient, student, or other type of consumer.

Type III
Offender is either a current or former employee who is acting out toward co-workers, managers, or supervisors.

Type IV
Offender is not employed at the workplace, but has a personal relationship with an employee. Often, these incidents are due to domestic disagreements between an employee and the offender.

Roland: One thread that is consistent with respect to workplace violence is training. When workplace violence happens to you, how are you going to REACT? If you have received no training, you will end up in a state of denial and be unable to react. If you have been trained, you will see choices and opportunities to help eliminate or mitigate the situation. Below is the FBI’s views on training.

The disparities in responses between those who have and those who have not been trained to deal with these types of stressful situations. Both groups initially react by being startled and experiencing fear. Then, they begin to diverge: the untrained panic, whereas the trained experience controllable anxiety. From that point on, the trained group members begin to recall what they should do next, prepare, and act. The untrained, however, experience disbelief that eventually leads to denial and, ultimately, helplessness. Knowing how differently the groups will react based solely on training underscores the importance of advanced preparation.

For any organization, workplace violence can be a significant economic liability and a public relations disaster waiting to happen. Unless proper steps, including a detailed risk assessment, are taken and documented to ensure the safety of your employees, you could be faced with lawsuits, potential loss of life and a damaged corporate/organizational image.

According to the Society of Human Resource Management, nearly 2/3s of Human Resource professionals state that there has been some type of workplace violence at their corporation/organization within the last three years. The distribution of workplace violence incidents is as follows:

- 54% : Inappropriate language
- 13% : Verbal abuse
- 7% : Verbal threats of violence
- 6% : Sexual harassment
- 5% : Burglary
- 4% : Pushing/Shoving
- 3% : Fistfight
- 2% : Threatening emails received by employees
- 2% : Stalking
- 1% : Robbery (holdup)
- 1% : Threatening emails send by employees
- 1% : Bomb threat

Each year, approximately 2 million workers are victims of workplace violence in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). Yet, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, almost 9% of businesses reporting an incident had no program or policy in place to address workplace violence. Employers should understand the potential risks of a (violent) event in the workplace, develop a plan to respond to such an event, and know how to mitigate the loss they might experience.

SAM has a training program to address Workplace Violence. Once you have completed your internal risk assessment, please contact SAM. We will assist you in addressing any training needs to make sure your workplace violence policy is in compliance.

Most States are taking legislative action to address bullying in schools. Our society has finally reached the bullying “crossroads” and has decided to address bullying with legislation. The legislation requires schools to take certain steps to mitigate bullying in schools. The legislation usually includes the following points: 1) Definition of bullying, 2) A point person or coordinator, 3) Reporting and the appropriate metrics, 4) Who at the school needs to be trained to recognize and deal with bullying, and 5) Training.

Such training may include, but not be limited to, (1) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting, (2) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying, (3) information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying, and (4) research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM is designed to address the TRAINING portion of the legislation (developed and passed) to take on the BULLYING disease. Here is a brief description of SAM and how the curriculum speaks to the points above.

(1) Developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying among students in school and outside of the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) be proactive about personal safety and to minimize the risk of being a victim, (B) practice and master skills to use when threatened, (C) manage fear and anxiety during stressful situations, and (D) evaluate threats and possible options.

(2) Developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop bullying.

SAM teaches students, teaches and administrators how to: (A) use non-verbal and verbal communication and paralanguage, (B) not show fear during the confrontation, (C) set appropriate limits and consequences that are applicable to school policies and procedures.

(3) Information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying, students against whom such acts of bullying are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators how to: (A) step in and assist the student who is being bullied.

(4) Research findings on bullying, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for bullying in the school setting.

SAM teaches students, teachers and administrators on: (A) the difference between male and female bullies, (B) the difference between male and female victims, (C) the effects of being bullied, (D) how to manage physical bullying such as holds, physical assaults with personal weapons including knives and guns, and (E) what to do if there is an active shooter on campus or in a classroom.

SAM is a Training Program that addresses bullying in our schools. Please let us know if you think this type of Training Program would be beneficial in mitigating bullying in your educational environment.

Since our email went out a week ago there has been another shooting involving a 22 year old student and his instructor. The student was upset and left the classroom and came back to the classroom with a semi-automatic gun and shot and killed his instructor. Would you have accurately assessed his non-verbal communication? Do you know what to do if you are confronted by an active shooter?

SAM Programs were developed to address this disheartening trend. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum addresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with practical safety skills. These skills will allow an individual to deal with aggressive behavior, bullying, violence and an active shooter.

On March 17, 2011, SAM is holding a one-day Instructor course. The course is being held at the University of Hartford and will be taught by Roland Ouellette (Director of Training, SAM) and Mike Kaselouskas (University of Hartford). The course will provide the necessary skills and training to allow an Instructor to go back to their community and provide training to all those that may confront aggressive behavior.

Unfortunately, aggressive behavior in our schools is only going to get worse. Be prepared to address this trend — sign up today for SAM.

SAM Programs

The escalation of aggressive behavior and outright violence in our schools is alarming. Everyone is subject to a certain amount of risk: students, teachers, security and administration. Nationally, teachers are subject to over 400,000 violent crimes a year and students, ages 12 through 18, are subject to over 250,000 crimes a year.

SAM Training was developed to address this disheartening trend. SAM’s comprehensive curriculum addresses preparedness and prevention, empowering individuals with practical safety skills. These skills will allow an individual to deal with aggressive behavior, bullying, violence and an active shooter.

On March 17, 2011, SAM is holding a one-day Instructor course. The course is being held at University of Hartford and will be taught by Roland Ouellette (Director of Training, SAM) and Mike Kaselouskas (University of Hartford). The course will provide the necessary skills and training to allow an Instructor to go back to their community and provide training to all those that may confront aggressive behavior. For more information and details see below.

“He/she didn’t fit the profile.” Don’t let this be your excuse — let SAM (www.samprograms.com) teach you how to be proactive against this alarming trend.

Thank you.

Roland Ouellette
Director of Training
SAM Training, LLC
P.O. Box 970067
Coconut Creek, FL 33097
954-255-6300
www.samprograms.com

Students in middle school, high school and college should learn certain skills to deal with violent situations that they may encounter in their educational community. Over 80% of students will become victims of attempted or completed violent crimes (i.e., murder, robbery, rape, and/or aggravated assault) during their lifetime.

The “Bull’s-eye image” highlights what: 1) students must know (red); 2) students should know (yellow); 3) students may want to know (green).

MUST KNOW (Red):

1. How to mentally prepare themselves so they will respond automatically when confronted with various violent situations.

2. How to manage a situation whereby someone has put a gun or knife to his/her face.

3. What to do when they are in a classroom with an active shooter and there is no ability to escape.

4. How to mange a knife threat when they are cornered and can’t escape.

5. How to escape from a front choke hold.

6. How to escape from a wrist grab when the assailant is trying to pull them into a vehicle or off a jogging trail.

7. How to escape from a rear choke hold.

8. How to escape from a rear bear hug.

9. Understanding the nonverbal signals of assault that is imminent.

10. How to manage bullying.

SHOULD KNOW (Yellow):

1. How to read the non-verbal signals of a person who has decided to assault them.

2. How to read eye communications.

3. How to divert the focus of someone with a gun or knife.

4. How to manage an individual who is yelling or screaming at you.

NICE TO KNOW (Green):

1. Safety rules like: Not walking alone on campus at night.

2. Letting people know where you are going and how your going to get there.

3. Staying out of dark places.

4. Asking security to walk you to your car in a dark parking lot.

5. Keeping your dorm room locked.

6. Looking under and in the back seat of a car before entering.

Let the trainers at SAM teach you these skills so that you are prepared to address the potential risks associated with the BULL’S-EYE.