As a small business owner, it’s important for you to be aware of the very real risk of workplace violence, so you can be alert to warning signs and take steps to prevent problems from developing. It’s a fact that no company is too small to experience episodes of workplace violence. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the lives of two million American workers are touched by workplace violence every single year.

Workplace violence is exactly what it sounds like. It is violence, or the threat of violence, that takes place in the workplace. In some instances, workplace violence involves actions of aggression between co-workers. However, this is not the only type of workplace violence small business owners need to be aware of. In many instances, violence occurs in the workplace as a direct result of domestic violence situations workers deal with at home.

Angry spouses, family members, and acquaintances sometimes approach and/or attack people they have personal relationships with in the workplace. Customers who feel they’ve been cheated or who are dissatisfied with a company’s problem resolution procedures have been known to act out their frustration by committing violent acts against employees. Additionally, many actions of violence in the workplace are committed by complete strangers, particularly in instances of robbery, terrorist threats, etc.

It’s a fact that workplace violence can take many forms and can have many different types of triggers. It can happen anywhere and to anyone. No company is immune to dealing with the threat of workplace violence, no matter how large or small. Make sure your workplace is secure, and that it’s easy to identify who belongs and who doesn’t. This is why many companies require employees to wear uniforms and/or name badges. Depending on the type of business you have, you might need to put additional safeguards in place, such as keyless entry systems, sign in and out procedures, and more.

Make sure managers are trained regarding what types of behaviors might indicate that problems may be developing. For example, abrupt changes in employee behavior, argumentativeness, having resentful feelings about being passed over for a raise or promotion, and many other factors can be warning signs. Every company should have a specific written policy for handling workplace violence, and it must be clearly communicated to everyone on staff. It’s also essential to train everyone in a management situation how to watch for and deal with potentially violent situations that may arise in the workplace.