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Posted By Malcolm Hogarth
Here is one to get the grey matter going.
I have been alerted to a potential issue regarding a domestic dispute that may ultimately lead to a disgruntled party coming to the workplace and causing trouble. This raises obvious concerns for the safety of staff and the employee involved (said employee is on holiday until the new year and it is unlikely that anything will kick off between now and then)
Entry to the premises is via a yard/car park off the street and then through a main door into reception. The receptionist sits at a desk in the foyer area. This would be the first point of contact with any visitor and is the area that I am most concerned about.
The employee invloved in the alleged threat works in another area well within the building
An added factor is that at the moment this is just hearsay and rumour and may very well come to nothing. I do not want to go to extremes on this but as it has been brought to my attention I am obliged to take some sort of action. I will obviously be considering the risk assessment and have some initial thoughts on control measures. I wonder what the feeling out there is on this scenario and whether any of you have had to deal with this kind of thing. What would be reasonably practicable without creating fort knox but that would be pragmatic?
If it gets to the stage where an implicit threat is made we can take other action but we are in a bit of a dilemma at the moment.
HELP.....................
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Posted By Bill Fisher
Malcolm
Thankfully I have not been in this situation, but to set the ball rolling I will offer some thoughts.
Firstly I have assumed that the potential aggressor doesn't work for you.
In this situation I would discuss the concerns with the local Community Police(person, making it clear that this is local intelligence coming your way with no specific threat made.
I would seek their advice whilst briefing them.
As your receptionist is first point of contact I would want to have an response plan developed - not just for this possible issue, but as a matter of course. Receptionists are often isolated and at the front so a standing response to anysituation would be useful.
As to the response could you install an "attack" alarm with instructions to use whenever there is a feeling of threat. Does it sound only away from the area or also at the area? Who will/can respond? Who will call the police- who will decide?
I suggest that this potential situation could be used to very good effect to improve the situation overall.
I hope this will generate other thoughts, particularly from those who have experience.
Regards
Bill
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Posted By Jim Walker
Malcolm,
You don't happen to work for the Spectator magazine by any chance?
If yes, I suggest you get some dog biscuits to distract his accomplice.
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Posted By Stephen Boardman
Afternoon Malcolm, I have pasted some information below which you may find useful.
The European Commission has introduced measures to ensure the safety and health of workers. The 1989 Council Directive (89/391)
contains the basic provisions for health and safety at work and it makes employers responsible for making sure employees do not
suffer harm through work, including violence at work. Member States have all implemented this Directive through legislation and some in addition have developed guidance on preventing violence at work. Following the approach in the Directive, to eliminate or
reduce violence at work, employers in consultation with workers and their representatives should:
• Aim to prevent violence at work;
• Assess the risks of violence at work;
• Take adequate action to prevent the harm.
Hope this helps
Regards
Steve
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Posted By steven bentham
Malcolm
As this is a possible domestic incident, you could try:
(a) talk to person who is at your workplace
- is it a realistic threat?
(b) let it be known that violence is not
acceptable at work, at all
(c) brief staff who may be involved, can the situation be diffused if it arrives?
(d) if it is likely to be more serious, ring police
(If the person who may come has any history of violence you may well wish to notify police for 'inteligence' reasons or for advice anyway)
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Posted By Fred Pratley
Ignoring the warring parties for a moment, if you believe that your receptionist is "at risk" from some man off the street, then you must consider an intercom and magnetic lock system for the front door, combined with an appointments only visitor policy.
With regard to this particular dispute, ask your employee for details, so that if anyone comes in asking for him/her, the receptionist politely takes a name and asks them to wait, and contacts yourself.
If it is your unwanted visitor, have a reliable colleague go to talk to the receptionist just in front of you. This provides a screen for the receptionist and personal assistance if required.
You then greet the visitor, and explain that as your employee is busy at the moment, you have been asked to see if you can be of any assistance. This is usually sufficient to defuse most situations.
If the visitor then hangs around in wait the front of your premises, a polite call to your local Police station is usually sufficient.
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