Unfortunately, one of the realities of workplaces today is that they can be the site of violence. Workplace violence and resulting injury can happen anywhere in Homestead and across South Florida.
Preventing Workplace Injuries in Homestead
There are several ways you can prevent injuries and violence in the workplace:
- Have a system in place for dealing with violence
- Keep a close eye on company culture
- Have a professional come in to train your staff on how to de-escalate violent confrontations
- Consider installing alarm buttons in the workplace
- Use security measures, including security staff and surveillance cameras, to reduce violence
- Have and enforce a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence
- Have written emergency plans in place and make sure team members know about them
You will also want to stay alert for signs that a co-worker is contemplating violence. Look for:
- Isolation
- Signs of depression or substance abuse
- Violations of company policy
- Absenteeism
- Complaints or threats of violence or self-harm
- Paranoia
- Mood swings
- Bad reactions to company changes or feedback
If Violence Occurs in Your Homestead Workplace
No matter how much you try to prevent violence, it can still occur. Unfortunately, assault, customer violence, harassment, and even active shooter situations can still happen, even with a very caring work environment.
Unfortunately, these situations can lead to serious injuries, including:
- Spinal cord injuries
- Head trauma
- Facial injuries
- Fractures
- Soft tissue injuries
- Injuries to arms and legs
- Contusions
- Fatalities
In an active shooter situation or a situation where a person becomes dangerously violent, experts recommend that you:
- Run: Getting out of the way of harm is your best choice. Use an escape route if one is available.
- Hide: If you cannot get out of the way of someone who is dangerous, try to hide. Get inside a room and lock and barricade the door, if you can. If others are with you, keep low and quiet. Hide where you can, even under desks. Shut off the lights if you can to reduce visibility for the attacker.
- Attack: If you cannot hide or get out of the way, you may need to take a more offensive stance. This should be your last resort, since the risk of injury is high. If possible, work with others in your workplace to overpower the attacker in numbers. Strike quickly and with force to disarm the attack. Use anything on hand in self-defense, including pieces of furniture, glass, staplers, or anything else which can help you.
Who Is Liable for Workplace Violence in Homestead?
If you have been seriously injured due to workplace violence in Homestead or South Florida, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation. If you are a customer or visitor to a place of business and were injured due to workplace violence, you may have a premises liability claim against the property owner if they failed to properly protect you.
Being devastated by a serious injury is bad enough. You should not have to worry about getting medical treatment and paying the bills, too. Contact Flaxman Law Group at 1-866-352-9626 (1-866-FLAXMAN) for a free accident consultation with a Homestead workplace injury lawyer if you have been injured due to workplace violence.