Transcript Drugs and Violence in the Workplacex

Introduction to Security
Chapter 12
Drugs and Violence
in the Workplace
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The Threat of Drugs
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The U.S. has a long history of drug
use, including alcohol.
The cost of drug abuse is
staggering; in 2002, the cost was
estimated at 180.9 billion dollars.
At an increase of 5.3% per year, it
represents one of the most costly
health problems in the U.S.
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The Threat of Drugs
Largo Corp. vs. Crespin (1986); the
Colorado Supreme Court ruled that
an employer or proprietor could be
held liable for the conduct of an
intoxicated employee or patron if
the drinking occurred at work or at
the place of business.
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Drug Statistics
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19.1 millions Americans 12 and
older currently use illicit drugs.
8% of the country’s population has
used an illegal drug in the past 30
days.
Pharmaceutical drug abuse rate
exceed those of all other drugs,
except marijuana.
Marijuana is the most widely abused
illicit drug.
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Drug Schedules
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Schedule I – heroin, LSD, GHB,
marijuana
Schedule II – morphine, PCP
Schedule III – anabolic steroids,
codeine
Schedule IV – valium, xanax,
rohypnol
Schedule V – Robitussin, OTC
products
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4 Categories of Drugs
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Narcotics
Depressants
Stimulants
Hallucinogens
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I. Narcotics
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Produce sleep, lethargy, or relief of
pain
Examples: heroin, cocaine and
crack
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Narcotics - Marijuana
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The most available and abused
illegal drug in the U.S.
Sinsemilla – a highly potent form of
marijuana
Often cited as a gateway drug –
meaning it leads users into the
abuse of harder drugs
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II. Depressants
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Sedatives fall into this category
Often taken orally as a small tablet
or capsule to induce sleep or relieve
tension
Symptoms are: signs of
drunkenness, slurred speech,
impaired coordination, mental and
emotional instability
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III. Stimulants
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Also known as amphetamines
Normal doses produce wakefulness,
increase alertness and initiative and
hyperactivity
Exaggerated feelings of confidence,
power and well-being come from
too-large doses
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III. Stimulants
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Symptoms of heavy stimulant use
include nervousness, hand tremors,
mouth dryness and pupil dilation.
Because of these symptoms,
handling people under the influence
of stimulants is always a safety
concern for security officers.
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III. Stimulants
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Methamphetamine – a potent
stimulant, synthetically produced, is
a huge concern for employers
Also known as speed, ice, and
crystal
Methamphetamine use tends to be
regionally concentrated, focused in
the West and Midwest.
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IV. Hallucinogens
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Produce distortion, intensify sensory
perception, and lessen the ability to
discriminate between fact and
fantasy
Examples are LSD, PCP
A symptom almost always present
is nystagmus; a bouncing or jerking
of the eyeball when the person
looks to the extreme left or right.
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General symptoms of drug use:
 Sudden and dramatic changes in
discipline and job performance
 Unusual degrees of activity or
inactivity
 Sudden and irrational flare-ups
 Significant change in personal
appearance or the worse.
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General symptoms of drug use:
 Dilated pupils or wearing sunglasses
at inappropriate places or times
 Needle marks, razor cuts or wearing
long sleeves constantly to hide
them
 Sudden, uncharacteristic attempts
to borrow money or steal
 Association with known drug
abusers or pushers
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Alcohol Abuse
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According to the Institute of Alcohol
Studies, 3-5% of the workforce is
alcohol dependent.
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3 ways alcohol can impair work
performance:
1. Employees with a raised alcohol level
can jeopardize both efficiency and safety
through errors in judgment and
increased accident proneness.
2. The after-effects of drinking
(hangovers) impair both work
performance and attendance.
3. Persistent alcohol abuse can be
associated with a range of social,
psychological and medical problems.
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Preventing Alcohol Problems in the
Workplace
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Make sure the workplace culture
does not encourage or tolerate
drinking
Offer health and employee
education programs
Establish EAPs to help employees
with existing problems
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Violence in the Workplace
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The definition for workplace
violence is quite complex, but it
encompasses behaviors ranging
from personal concern (threats,
bullying, harassment) to injury to
death.
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Violence in the Workplace
National Association of Safety
Professionals 3 levels of violence:
1. Disruptive Behavior – intimidation,
bullying, obscene language or
gestures, shouting, other non-physical
acts
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Violence in the Workplace
National Association of Safety
Professionals 3 levels of violence:
2. Aggressive/ threatening behaviors:
obscene calls, stalking, serious
harassment, physical trauma, suicide
threats
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Violence in the Workplace
National Association of Safety
Professionals 3 levels of violence:
3. Physical assault, including throwing
objects, pushing, grabbing, striking,
sexual assault and any attack with a
weapon
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Violence in the Workplace
The workplace violence continuum illustrates
a general pattern followed with workplace
violence:
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Violence in the Workplace
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Workplace violence is most likely to
occur in a toxic work environment.
Toxic work environment
characterized by:
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Highly authoritarian style of
management invasive of privacy
Changing supervision patterns
Work climate cloaked by extreme
secrecy
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Other motivations for workplace violence:
 Job loss due to downsizing
 Uncaring working environment
 Availability of guns
 Personality conflicts
 Resentment
 High levels of stress on the job
 Substance abuse
 Mental health issues
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Recognizing the Risk – Who does it?
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The typical perpetrator of workplace
violence is:
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White Male
25-50 years old
Loner
Disgruntled
Has been or is about to be fired
Gun enthusiast
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Warning Signs:
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“Leakage” of violent thoughts. Pay
attention to what people are saying and
take concerns voiced by others seriously.
Depression
Paranoia
Erratic Behavior
Fixation on a co-worker
Threats (direct, indirect or conditional)
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Direct – to a certain place or person
Indirect – “I could kill everyone.”
Conditional – “If this happens, you’ll regret
it…”
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Preventing Workplace Violence
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A proactive plan, customized to
your workplace, is essential.
Clear “no threats, no violence”
policies including zero tolerance.
No weapons at work policies
Training for all employees
Careful pre-employment screening
An effective reporting system
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Violence in Schools
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From July 1, 2005 through June
2006, 35 youths age 5-18 died from
school-associated violence.
6% of students ages 12-18 reported
they were afraid of attack or harm
at school. (Black and Hispanic
student rates are higher than white
students.)
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4-pronged approach for effective
school security:
1. School/law enforcement/security
partnerships
2. Clear policies on accepted behavior
with consequences for
nonconformity
3. Security procedures & technology
4. Crisis planning
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#3 – Security Procedures
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Video surveillance
Virtual tours
Cell phones
Advanced weapons detection
system
Biometrics
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New Jersey schools using an iris
recognition system to only allow
authorized people into schools
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