Workplace Violence
Personal Conduct to Minimize
Workplace Violence
For emergencies, call 911
The following suggestions are designed to assist in your daily interactions with de-
escalating potentially violent situations. If a person’s behavior escalates beyond a
reasonable level or they become physical - Disengage and immediately call 911.
DO:
◊ Project calmness
◊ Listen - Encourage dialogue
◊ Project a relaxed and attentive
posture
◊ Acknowledge feelings to indicate
you know they are upset
◊ Establish ground rules if
unreasonable behavior persists
◊ Calmly describe the consequences
of violent behavior
◊ Use delaying tactics to give the
person time to calm down.
◊ Point out choices and reassure
everything will be OK
◊ Break big problems into small
choices
◊ Accept criticism and ask clarifying
questions
◊ Ask for recommendations and
repeat back what is said
DO NOT:
◊ Accept demands from the actor
◊ Physically contact the other person
◊ Make sudden or threatening
movements
◊ Challenge, belittle, threaten or dare
the individual.
◊ Criticize or act impatient
◊ Attempt to bargain
◊ Try to make the situation seem less
serious than it is
◊ Make false statements or promises
you cannot keep
◊ Use complicated words or technical
defi nitions
◊ Take sides or agree with distortions
◊ Get blocked from the exit
andrew.oakley@ci.bremerton.wa.us
Bremerton Police Department
