Newswise — BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Workplace violence is real and as evidenced by the recent events at Excel Industries in Hesston, Kansas, can be fatal.

“Accidents within the workplace that involve fatalities seem to get more attention,” states Michelle Fanucchi, Ph.D., chair of University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Public Health Department of Environmental Health Sciences. “Workplace violence occurs everyday in every type of occupation. I encourage employers and managers to take the time to review your safety policies now.”

According to Fanucchi, the best protection that an employer can provide against workplace violence is a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace violence against or by their employees.

Fanucchi provides a few tips on developing prevention plans against workplace violence:

• Recognize workplace violence as a safety and health hazard • Perform a worksite analysis to find existing or potential hazards that may lead to workplace violence• Keep records of any incidents to determine patterns of assaults or near misses that can be avoided with proper controls• Implement controls and educate and train management and workforce on controls

About UABKnown for its innovative and interdisciplinary approach to education at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, the University of Alabama at Birmingham is the state of Alabama’s largest employer and an internationally renowned research university and academic medical center; its professional schools and specialty patient-care programs are consistently ranked among the nation’s top 50. UAB’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science is advancing innovative discoveries for better health as a two-time recipient of the prestigious Center for Translational Science Award. Find more information at www.uab.edu and www.uabmedicine.org.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a separate, independent institution from the University of Alabama, which is located in Tuscaloosa. Please use University of Alabama at Birmingham on first reference and UAB on all subsequent references.

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