Food Safety and Inspection Service United States Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. 20250-3700

News and Information

June 2001

Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce 2000: Attachment B

Workplace Violence Assessment – Employee Interviews
Implementation Proposal

Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce

_________ Subcommittee

Assessment Objectives

The objectives of the Workplace Violence Prevention Interviews are:

• Interview 20% of _______ employees.
• Gather a broad range of information that provides input to the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce on the level and makeup of a potential for workplace violence.
• Gather specific information on the current usage of Agency mechanisms for addressing workplace violence.
• Gather information to assist appropriate Agency mechanisms in addressing urgent workplace violence situations.
• Convey the Agency emphasis on the workplace violence issue to ________ employees.
• Interview process to be completed during the third and fourth quarter of fiscal year.

Background

In response to urgent concerns for issues of workplace violence, the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce made recommendations for immediate action items, which include interviews of _______employees. The purpose of the interviews is to determine the scope and the make up of the potential for workplace violence that may or may not be known. The In-Plant Subcommittee of the taskforce was tasked with formulating recommendations, including a clear definition and method for the interview process.

Desired Outcome

The outcome of the interview process should yield the following reports:

• Compilation of specific interviews and summation of each interview by the implementation teams conducting the interviews.
• Ongoing feedback to the FSIS Workplace Violence Prevention Assessment Team to alert for imminent risk situations that require follow-up investigation by appropriate entities.
• Recommendations for Training Committee(s) for content and emphasis for future training efforts.

Proposal

The In-Plant Subcommittee recommends a two-fold process of interviews that will include:

1. In-person interviews with ________ employees
2. Online survey distributed via Outlook

These processes will run independently from each other and are intended to yield different data. The online survey is intended to gather information toward an assessment of overall workplace violence potential. The online survey should also provide information that points to specific locations where a potential for workplace violence exists.

The in-person interviews are intended to provide an interactive exchange with employees in specific areas of concern. The personal interviews will ask a wider range and more specific questions about employee knowledge of workplace violence issues and actual situations involving a potential for workplace violence. The interactive structure of the interview should enable the process to gather specific information to determine:

• The scope and nature of potential workplace violence situations in the ____office environment.
• The exposure to current mechanisms for addressing workplace violence issues
• Reasons why current mechanisms are not fully utilized
• Reasons why current mechanisms are not fully effective
• Identify workplace violence situations that escape current thinking on the problem

Implementation Methodology

In-Person Interviews

• Site visits for interviews during regular working hours.
• Confidentiality protocol for interviews (Exception: Imminent danger situations requiring immediate investigation).

Email Surveys via Outlook

• Agency-wide distribution to ________employees of workplace violence surveys with interactive Intranet web-based response.
• Automatic database compilation of responses to assist in preparation of risk assessment by location and priority.

Independence of Methods

• In-Person and Email surveys to be run independently with no correlation of results to ensure that there are no overlap or duplication of results.
• Time frame for completion of overall process is 6 months.
• Ongoing feedback to FSIS Workplace Violence Prevention Assessment Team during interview process and survey process to address situations with a strong potential for incident.

Risk Assessment for Determination of Interview Emphasis

• Identify Locations for Risk of Workplace Violence
  • specific office location assessment; or
  • overall office location assessment
• Identify Environmental Risk Factors
  • Common
  • Unique
• Identify Geographical Risk Factors
• Identify Situational Risk Factors
• Identify Physical Risk Factors
• Identify Known Risk Factors (i.e., external vs. internal)
  • previous reports of threat
  • previous reports of violence
  • any incidents reported to law enforcement

Logistical Considerations

• Sample size to be 20% of the approximately ______________ employees. Interviews per district to be determined from the percentage figure.
  • Interviews to be conducted during regular tours of duty, when possible.
  • _____ interviewing teams within each district.

Attachment One

Online Survey

Method: This survey is to be distributed to Outlook distribution list "_________". The Office of Policy, Program Development and Evaluation, Evaluation and Analysis Division will facilitate the structure and delivery of the survey. The survey will be delivered as an Intranet link via Outlook messaging. The Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce will automatically compile the responses to the survey into a database for ongoing and final review.

For logistical reasons, the survey questions will be kept at a minimum and will be used as a screening device for developing more specific questionnaires and focusing on areas that reveal levels of concern as determined by the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce.

The format for the initial online survey should be as follows:

The following questionnaire is to assist the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce in determining problems and concerns in the workplace. Responses to the questions are kept confidential and respondent’s identity is kept confidential. Respondents will be free from reprisal, and any investigations of urgent workplace violence situations will be conducted through due process.

1. Are you familiar with any actual or potential workplace violence situations where you are assigned that have occurred within the last year?

2. Have you ever heard comments by ______ personnel that described a desire or intention to do physical harm to yourself or other FSIS employees?

3. Do you work in an environment where a firearm is kept for any reason?

4. Have you even been concerned for your personal safety while at work?

5. Have you ever complained to your supervisor about being harassed or intimidated?

6. Are you familiar with the procedures you should follow if confronted by anyone in a hostile manner?

7. Are you familiar with the Workplace Violence Prevention brochure?

8. Has the subject of workplace violence ever been covered during work meetings that you have attended?

9. Do you wish to be contacted concerning any of the above matters by a member of the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce?

Attachment Two

 Personal Survey

Method: This survey is to be delivered via an in-person interactive discussion format. The targeted time frame for the interview is 60 minutes.

Responses to the survey are to be kept confidential and shall not be discussed with the field office supervisor or any other person(s) at that location. Further, responses will not be discussed with anyone outside of the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce.

 Questions: 

1. Are you familiar with news stories or Agency statements involving Agency employees in situations of workplace violence?

2. Are you familiar with any situations of actual workplace violence at any time during your career?

3. Are you familiar with any actual or potential workplace violence situations where you are assigned that have occurred within the last year?

4. Have you ever witnessed or been involved in a physical confrontation with an FSIS employee? If "yes", explain the circumstances:

5. Have you ever been threatened with physical harm while doing your job? If "yes", was the threat from an industry or an FSIS employee? Give details to briefly describe the incident.

6. Have you ever witnessed or been a part of a verbal confrontation with an industry or FSIS employee while performing your job? If "yes", explain the circumstances:

7. Has an industry or FSIS employee ever threatened your job security? If "yes", explain the circumstances:

8. Have you even been concerned for your personal safety while at work? Describe your concerns:

9. Have you ever heard comments by plant or FSIS personnel that described a desire or intention to do physical harm to yourself or other FSIS or industry employees?

10. Do you work in an environment where a firearm is kept for any reason?

11. Do you carry a cellular phone with you (on your person or in a carry bag or purse) while you are working? Do you have a cellular phone in your car that you use to and from or at work?

12. Do you know what procedures are in place to call law enforcement and emergency medical services in the event of a workplace violence incident?

13. Have you ever complained to an Agency supervisor about being harassed or intimidated by industry persons? If so, how was the complaint handled?

14. Have you ever been discouraged from pursuing a complaint of being harassed or intimidated by industry persons? If so, what did you do next?

15. Are you familiar with the procedures you should follow if confronted by anyone in a hostile manner? If so, how did you learn of these procedures?

16. Are you familiar with your rights regarding industry accusations against inspection personnel?

17. Have you ever read or seen FSIS Directive 4735.4, Reporting Assault, Threats, Intimidation, or Interference?

18. Have you ever completed an FSIS Form 4735-4, Reporting Form for Assault, Threats of Assault, Intimidation, or Interference? If not, do you know how to use one if you need to?

19. If you have ever completed an FSIS Form 4735-4, was the form answered and a copy returned to you? If so, was the response discussed with you?

20. Are you familiar with the Workplace Violence Prevention brochure?

21. Do you know or do you have access to the telephone number for the Workplace Violence Prevention hotline?

22. Has the subject of workplace violence ever been covered during work meetings that you have attended?

This was prepared by the In-Plant Subcommittee for the Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce.