Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]

Workplace violence is recognized by OSHA as a serious occupational health and safety hazard, addressed under the General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) and supplemented by NIOSH guidelines for violence prevention program development. Employers in high-risk industries are expected to implement written violence prevention programs, conduct regular hazard assessments, and train employees in recognition and response protocols. This checklist provides EHS managers and Safety Directors with a structure

  • Industry: Workplace Safety
  • Frequency: Quarterly
  • Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
  • Role: EHS Manager
  • Total Items: 38
  • Compliance: OSHA General Duty Clause Section 5(a)(1) - Workplace Violence Hazards, OSHA 29 CFR 1904.35 Employee Reporting of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, NIOSH Publication No. 2002-101 Violence: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1020 Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records, ADA Title I - Confidentiality of Medical and Psychiatric Information

Written Workplace Violence Prevention Program

Verify that a formal, documented workplace violence prevention program exists, is current, and meets OSHA and NIOSH program standards.

  • Does the facility have a written workplace violence prevention program that has been reviewed within the past 12 months?
  • Does the written program include definitions of workplace violence types (Type I through Type IV)?
  • Does the program include a clear management commitment statement signed by senior leadership?
  • Are employees included in the workplace violence prevention program development and review process?
  • Is the workplace violence prevention policy posted or accessible to all employees in this facility?

Workplace Violence Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

Evaluate whether systematic hazard identification and risk assessment processes are in place and current for this work environment.

  • Has a formal workplace violence risk assessment been conducted for this facility within the past 12 months?
  • Does the risk assessment address environmental risk factors such as isolated work areas, cash handling, and late-night operations?
  • Are incident reports, near-miss data, and threat reports analyzed for violence risk patterns at least quarterly?
  • Have employees been surveyed or interviewed to identify unreported threats, intimidation, or violence concerns?
  • Is this facility or work unit classified as high-risk based on NIOSH or OSHA industry risk criteria?

Engineering Controls and Physical Security

Inspect physical and engineering controls designed to deter, detect, or minimize workplace violence incidents.

  • Are access control measures (key cards, locked entry points, security desks) functional and consistently enforced?
  • Is adequate lighting maintained in all parking areas, entrances, stairwells, and isolated work areas?
  • Are panic buttons, duress alarms, or two-way communication systems available in high-risk areas?
  • Is functional video surveillance (CCTV) in place and monitored in high-risk zones?
  • Are physical barriers (bullet-resistant glass, counter barriers, secured waiting areas) in place where applicable?
  • Are all identified engineering control deficiencies documented with corrective action owners and target dates?

Administrative Controls and Work Practice Policies

Assess the effectiveness of administrative controls including staffing policies, reporting procedures, and threat management practices.

  • Is there a documented threat reporting procedure that employees can access without fear of retaliation?
  • Does the facility have a Threat Assessment Team (TAT) or designated threat management process?
  • Are staffing levels reviewed to ensure employees are not required to work alone in high-risk situations?
  • Are violence-related incidents (including threats and near-misses) consistently logged and reported per OSHA recordkeeping requirements?
  • Is there a zero-tolerance workplace violence policy that is enforced consistently across all employee levels?

Employee and Supervisor Training

Verify that all required workplace violence prevention training has been delivered, documented, and is current for employees and supervisors.

  • Have all employees in this facility received initial workplace violence prevention training upon hire?
  • Is workplace violence prevention refresher training conducted at least annually?
  • Does supervisor training include early warning sign recognition, threat reporting escalation, and post-incident response responsibilities?
  • Are training completion records maintained and accessible for all employees?
  • Does training content include role-specific scenarios relevant to employees' actual work environment and violence risk type?

Incident Response and Post-Incident Support

Evaluate the readiness of incident response protocols and the adequacy of post-incident support resources for affected employees.

  • Is there a documented emergency action plan specific to workplace violence events (active aggressor, assault, stalking)?
  • Are employees trained in the Run-Hide-Fight or equivalent active threat response protocol?
  • Is an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) or critical incident stress management (CISM) resource available to affected employees following violent incidents?
  • Are all workplace violence incidents reviewed by the safety or threat assessment team within 48 hours of occurrence?
  • Are corrective actions from previous incident investigations tracked and verified as completed?
  • Document any recent workplace violence incidents or threats reported at this location in the past quarter?

Program Effectiveness Evaluation and Continuous Improvement

Assess whether the workplace violence prevention program is being systematically evaluated for effectiveness and continuously improved.

  • Are workplace violence incident rates tracked and benchmarked against industry data (e.g., BLS injury data, NIOSH surveillance)?
  • Is there a documented annual program review process that incorporates incident data, employee feedback, and regulatory updates?
  • Have any OSHA citations, complaints, or inspections related to workplace violence occurred at this facility in the past 3 years?
  • Are workplace violence prevention metrics included in the facility's overall EHS performance dashboard or scorecard?
  • Overall assessment: Is the workplace violence prevention program adequate for the hazard level present at this facility?
  • Inspector summary comments and priority corrective actions identified during this assessment?

Related Occupational Health Checklists

Why Use This Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This workplace violence prevention checklist [free pdf] helps workplace safety teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for ehs manager professionals, this checklist covers 38 critical inspection points across 7 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly.

Ensures compliance with OSHA General Duty Clause Section 5(a)(1) - Workplace Violence Hazards, OSHA 29 CFR 1904.35 Employee Reporting of Work-Related Injuries and Illnesses, NIOSH Publication No. 2002-101 Violence: Occupational Hazards in Hospitals, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1020 Access to Employee Exposure and Medical Records, ADA Title I - Confidentiality of Medical and Psychiatric Information. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 38 inspection items across 7 sections: Written Workplace Violence Prevention Program, Workplace Violence Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment, Engineering Controls and Physical Security, Administrative Controls and Work Practice Policies, Employee and Supervisor Training, Incident Response and Post-Incident Support, Program Effectiveness Evaluation and Continuous Improvement. It is designed for workplace safety operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Who should use this Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for EHS Manager professionals in the workplace safety industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.

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