SSP Workplace Violence Prevention 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which behavioral indicator is most commonly associated with an employee on a pathway toward workplace violence?
- Increased productivity and overtime requests
- Escalating grievances combined with social withdrawal (Correct answer)
- Frequent requests for schedule changes
- Participation in employee wellness programs
Correct answer: Escalating grievances combined with social withdrawal
Escalating grievances paired with withdrawal from coworkers is a recognized warning sign on the violence pathway.
Question 2: Under OSHA's General Duty Clause, employers are required to provide a workplace that is:
- Free from all hazards regardless of likelihood
- Free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious harm (Correct answer)
- Equipped with metal detectors at all entrances
- Staffed by armed security at all times
Correct answer: Free from recognized hazards likely to cause serious harm
The General Duty Clause (Section 5(a)(1)) requires employers to address recognized hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm.
Question 3: A Threat Assessment Team (TAT) is BEST described as:
- A group responsible for conducting background checks on new hires
- A multidisciplinary group that evaluates and manages reported threats (Correct answer)
- A security team trained to respond to active shooter incidents
- A legal committee that reviews termination decisions
Correct answer: A multidisciplinary group that evaluates and manages reported threats
A TAT is a cross-functional group typically including HR, security, legal, and mental health professionals who evaluate threat reports.
Question 4: What does the term 'leakage' refer to in the context of targeted workplace violence?
- Unauthorized disclosure of company data before an attack
- A subject's communication of intent to harm to a third party (Correct answer)
- The release of personal grievances in public forums
- Security system vulnerabilities exploited by an attacker
Correct answer: A subject's communication of intent to harm to a third party
Leakage is when a person reveals their violent intentions — directly or indirectly — to another person before carrying out an attack.
Question 5: Which type of workplace violence involves a customer, client, or patient attacking an employee?
- Type I — Criminal Intent
- Type II — Customer/Client (Correct answer)
- Type III — Worker-on-Worker
- Type IV — Personal Relationship
Correct answer: Type II — Customer/Client
Type II workplace violence is committed by someone with a legitimate relationship to the business, such as a customer, client, or patient.
Question 6: Which environment poses the HIGHEST statistical risk for Type I (criminal intent) workplace violence?
- Corporate headquarters offices
- Retail stores and late-night service establishments (Correct answer)
- Manufacturing plants with controlled access
- Remote work-from-home environments
Correct answer: Retail stores and late-night service establishments
Late-night retail and service operations with cash transactions face the highest risk of Type I violence, including robbery.
Question 7: A Zero Tolerance Policy for workplace violence is MOST effective when it:
- Mandates immediate termination for any aggressive behavior without review
- Clearly defines prohibited behaviors and is consistently enforced (Correct answer)
- Prohibits employees from discussing violent incidents internally
- Requires all threats to be reported directly to law enforcement only
Correct answer: Clearly defines prohibited behaviors and is consistently enforced
An effective zero tolerance policy defines what constitutes prohibited conduct and applies consequences consistently across all levels.
SSP Workplace Violence Prevention 2
Which behavioral indicator is most commonly associated with an employee on a pathway toward workplace violence?