Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]

Workplace violence is recognized by OSHA as a serious occupational health and safety hazard, particularly in healthcare, social services, and late-night retail environments, with applicable guidance under OSHA's General Duty Clause (29 USC § 654(a)(1)) and industry-specific guidelines. NIOSH estimates nearly 2 million U.S. workers experience workplace violence annually, making systematic prevention program audits essential for employer liability protection and worker wellbeing. This checklist en

Industry: Workplace Safety
Frequency: Quarterly
Estimated Time: 45-60 minutes
Role: EHS Manager
Total Items: 37
Compliance: OSHA General Duty Clause 29 USC § 654(a)(1) - Employer WPV Prevention Obligation, OSHA 29 CFR 1904.5 - Recordkeeping for Work-Related Violence Incidents, OSHA 3148-06R 2016 - Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence (Healthcare & Social Services), NIOSH Publication No. 2006-144 - Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies, ADA 42 U.S.C. § 12112 - Accommodation in Threat Assessment Processes

WPV Prevention Program Management and Policy

Verify that a written workplace violence prevention program exists, is current, and meets OSHA General Duty Clause requirements.

Does the facility have a written Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP) in place?
Has the WVPP been reviewed and updated within the past 12 months?
Has senior leadership formally endorsed the WVPP with a signed commitment statement?
Is there a designated Workplace Violence Prevention Coordinator or team responsible for program oversight?
Has the WVPP been communicated to all employees and is it accessible in the workplace?

Workplace Hazard Assessment and Risk Identification

Confirm that a systematic hazard assessment has been conducted to identify violence risk factors specific to this facility and workforce.

Has a formal workplace violence risk assessment been completed for this facility within the past year?
Were all four OSHA-identified WPV typologies (Type I-IV) evaluated during the risk assessment?
Does the facility conduct work operations identified as high-risk by NIOSH (late-night, cash handling, isolated work, client-facing)?
Have employees been surveyed or interviewed to identify unreported violence, threats, or near-misses?
Have risk assessment findings been documented and shared with the WPV prevention team?

Environmental Design and Physical Security Controls

Evaluate the adequacy of physical and environmental engineering controls designed to deter or prevent workplace violence incidents.

Are adequate lighting levels maintained in all parking areas, entrances, stairwells, and work areas?
Are access control systems (key cards, badge readers, locked entries) functional and regularly tested?
Are security cameras operational and covering all high-risk areas including reception, parking, and isolated work zones?
Are panic buttons, duress alarms, or two-way communication devices available in high-risk work areas?
Are reception and waiting areas designed to limit unauthorized access to staff work areas?
Has a physical security walk-through been documented in the past 90 days?

Administrative Controls and Safe Work Procedures

Review administrative policies and procedures that reduce violence risk through staffing, scheduling, reporting, and communication controls.

Are buddy systems or check-in protocols in place for employees working alone or in isolated areas?
Is there a written policy prohibiting retaliation against employees who report workplace violence or threats?
Are staffing levels reviewed to ensure adequate coverage during high-risk periods (shift changes, evenings, high-census times)?
Is there a current, documented visitor management policy that includes badging and escort requirements?
Are client or patient behavioral flags (violence history) communicated to frontline staff through a formal process?

Employee Training and Violence Awareness

Confirm that all employees have received role-appropriate workplace violence prevention training within required timeframes.

Have all employees received initial workplace violence prevention training at time of hire?
Is annual refresher WPV training documented for all current employees?
Does training content cover recognition of warning signs (pre-attack indicators, escalating behaviors)?
Have supervisors and managers received enhanced WPV training including threat assessment and de-escalation?
Are training records maintained and accessible for at least 3 years?

Incident Reporting, Investigation, and Recordkeeping

Verify that all workplace violence incidents, threats, and near-misses are captured through a standardized reporting and investigation process.

Is there a standardized incident reporting form or electronic system for all violence-related events including near-misses?
Have all recordable workplace violence incidents from the past 12 months been entered on the OSHA 300 Log?
Is a formal root cause investigation conducted within 24 hours of any physical violence or credible threat incident?
Are incident investigation findings and corrective actions tracked to closure in a log or CAPA system?
How many workplace violence incidents (physical, verbal, threats) were reported in the past 12 months?
Are incident trend reports reviewed by the WPV team on at least a quarterly basis?

Post-Incident Response and Employee Support

Evaluate the availability and utilization of post-incident support resources including psychological first aid, EAP access, and medical care.

Is psychological first aid or critical incident stress debriefing available to employees following a violence event?
Are employees directed to the EAP for confidential mental health support following any violent incident?
Is medical evaluation and treatment offered immediately to any employee physically injured in a workplace violence incident?
Are employees who have experienced workplace violence offered modified duty or reduced workload if clinically indicated?
Provide any additional corrective actions, observations, or recommendations from this WPV prevention audit:

Related Occupational Health Checklists

Why Use This Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This workplace violence prevention checklist [free pdf] helps workplace safety teams maintain compliance and operational excellence. Designed for ehs manager professionals, this checklist covers 37 critical inspection points across 7 sections. Recommended frequency: quarterly.

Ensures compliance with OSHA General Duty Clause 29 USC § 654(a)(1) - Employer WPV Prevention Obligation, OSHA 29 CFR 1904.5 - Recordkeeping for Work-Related Violence Incidents, OSHA 3148-06R 2016 - Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence (Healthcare & Social Services), NIOSH Publication No. 2006-144 - Workplace Violence Prevention Strategies, ADA 42 U.S.C. § 12112 - Accommodation in Threat Assessment Processes. Regulatory-aligned for audit readiness and inspection documentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF] cover?

This checklist covers 37 inspection items across 7 sections: WPV Prevention Program Management and Policy, Workplace Hazard Assessment and Risk Identification, Environmental Design and Physical Security Controls, Administrative Controls and Safe Work Procedures, Employee Training and Violence Awareness, Incident Reporting, Investigation, and Recordkeeping, Post-Incident Response and Employee Support. It is designed for workplace safety operations and compliance.

How often should this checklist be completed?

This checklist should be completed quarterly. Each completion takes approximately 45-60 minutes.

Who should use this Workplace Violence Prevention Checklist [FREE PDF]?

This checklist is designed for EHS Manager professionals in the workplace safety industry. It can be used for self-assessments, team audits, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Can I download this checklist as a PDF?

Yes, this checklist is available as a free PDF download. You can also use it digitally in the POPProbe mobile app for real-time data capture, photo documentation, and automatic reporting.