• 24 Hour, Toll-Free, Hotline Telephone Number:
  1-877-987-3747 (1-877-WVP-FSIS)
• For Incidents of Imminent Danger
• Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program Manager
• Workplace Violence Prevention Related Documents
• Memorial Site
• Contacting Team Members
• Additional Resources

Memorial Site
Food Safety and Inspection Service Compliance Officers who, along with Senior Special Investigator Bill Shaline, California Department of Food and Agriculture, lost their lives in the line of duty on June 21, 2000.

Safety for all FSIS employees is of paramount concern to the Agency. The FSIS Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program provides guidance, training, reporting systems, and management of incidents related to workplace violence prevention and response. Workplace violence is any type of violence, threat, intimidation, assault, harassment, interference, or other disruptive behavior in the workplace. Workplace violence will not be tolerated in FSIS because it is harmful to employees, and it prevents us from fulfilling our mission. No one can predict when this type of behavior will occur, which makes it even more important to be aware of the warning signs.

A threat is any gesture or oral or written expression that conveys intent to cause physical harm to persons or property. Critical threats are the actual use or display of firearms or other weapons with intent to harm, physical hitting, pushing, emotional verbal threats, destroying property, and stalking. Developmental threats are verbal or written remarks, conversations involving talk of guns that are perceived as threatening, nonverbal threats, and menacing gestures.

Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program Manager

Kesha Rawlings, MA, Psy.D. 
Program Manager 
Workplace Violence Prevention & Response Program 
USDA/FSIS/OM 
Employee Safety, Health and Wellness 
1400 Independence Avenue, SW 
Rm. 2140, South Bldg. 
Washington, D.C.20750 
(202) 690-1999 
Kesha.Rawlings@fsis.usda.gov

24 Hour Pager Number: 1-877-987-3747 (1-877-WVP-FSIS)

For Incidents of Imminent Danger

• Find a safe place
• Call 911
• Call OIG: 1-800-424-9192
• Call Supervisor
• Document on FSIS Form 4735-4
• REPORT ALL INCIDENTS

The key to preventing workplace violence is to recognize the warning signs and involve the appropriate resources as soon as possible. Timely notification and documentation of potential problems is essential. Be familiar with Agency policy, directives, and contact information so that you can take the steps necessary for ensuring a safe workplace.

Workplace Violence Prevention Related Documents

Policy

• Intimidation, harassment, inappropriate aggressive behavior, and other forms of threatening behavior are covered by FSIS Directive 4735.4, Reporting Assault, Threats, Intimidation, or Interference (Rev. 3) (Apr 22, 2005; PDF Only)
• FSIS Directive 4735.7, Rev. 1, Industry Accusations Against FSIS Program Employees (May 25, 2005; PDF Only)
• FSIS Notice 56-06, Firearms At The Worksite (Sep 6, 2006; PDF Only)
• FSIS Notice 67-10, Workplace Violence Policy Statement (Nov 4, 2010; PDF Only)
• USDA Handbook on Workplace Violence Prevention and Response (Oct 2001; PDF Only)

Reports

• Third Annual Report on Workplace Violence Prevention, Fiscal Year 2001, November 2001 (PDF Only)
• Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce 2000 (Jun 2001)
• Workplace Violence Prevention Taskforce Report (PDF Only)
• Conflict and Violence in the Food Safety Workplace: A Report on Meetings Convened by the Milbank Memorial Fund at the Request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Fulfillment of a Cooperative Agreement of September 2000

Have a Question? Contact a Team Member
Submit questions to the Workplace Violence Prevention and Response Program.

Additional Information Resources

• Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-222-0364 or TTY 1-888-262-7848
• TDD/TTY Employee Assistance Program: 1-800-697-0353
• Mediation & Conflict Resolution Intake Line: 1-800-860-8347
• Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or 911
• Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-784-2433
• Civil Rights Division (EEO): 1-800-269-6912 (voice/TTY)