Identifying & Responding to Unsafe Behaviors

“What to Never ignore in the WorkPlace!”

Presented by Margie Roop, LPCC-S; CEAP; SAPRegional DirectorLifeServices EAP1-800-822-4847

Margie Roop-Qualifications:Licensed

Professional Clinical Counselor-Supervisory endorsement

Certified Employee Assistance Professional

Substance Abuse Professional (DOT)

33 years in the Mental Health field

Masters Degree: Guidance & Counseling

In-patient & Out-patient experience with BOTH mental health & chemical dependency clients.

Are you AWARE?Do you CARE?Do you DARE?

•If not, let’s roll up our sleeves & get down to business!•Let’s make our workplace safer.•Let’s make our workplace more enjoyable!

Are you AWARE?Employee actions

which present as UNSAFE

AND, which COULD cause harm to self or others

Policy & Procedure violations

Illegal Activities

Would you know it if you saw it?

You had BETTER! THIS IS YOUR JOB!Employees & rest of

company is counting on you.

YOU are the eyes & ears of the organization at any given time.

As a supervisor, this IS what you signed on for!

You want to avoid a harmful outcome.

You want to avoid a lawsuit.

Do you CARE?Of course you do! Why wouldn’t I?

You are a supervisor because you care about leading others and advancing the best interests of the company!

You care about people.You care about safety.You care about

company success.

But, do you DARE?:Confront the

employee with such behaviors?

Confront employees to violate Policies & Procedures ?

Follow-through when such behavior is reported to you by other employees?

What’s holding you back?Fear? Fear?

Admit itWork on itSee your EAP for itSign up for more

trainingConsult with colleaguesAgain, this is what you

signed up for!Failure could be

dramatic & should not be an option

OK, so, what AM I looking for?

•Behaviors•Statements•Physical signs & symptoms•Work clothes•Work equipment•Work station•Objects

BehaviorsAgitation; outbursts;

throwing /hitting objectsInconsolable cryingDisorientation to person,

place & timeRepeated forgetfulnessSleeping on the job;

constant fatigueConsumption,

distribution, selling, concealment of prohibitive substances and/or paraphernalia

Inappropriate laughter towards self ; seems to be responding to internal stimuli

Possession or suspected possession of firearms and/or ammunition

All safety violationsStaggering, stumbling,

tripping, knocking into things

Behaviors-continued:Nervous; jittery; quick,

over-animated movements.

Slowed, lethargic, or deliberate (overly careful) movements.

Behaviors that make no sense for the job at hand (repeats a process unnecessarily, or other incorrect protocols.)

Statements:What’s wrong with

that?He said: what?

To kill self or othersThreatening : “He’ll be sorry

he told my supervisor about...”; “Wait ‘til I see him after work.”; “This company will pay…”, etc…

Despondency: “There’s no hope for me”; “I just as soon be gone from this world”

Disorientation: “I hear voices”; “I see things that others don’t”; “ I don’t know where I am, what day is it, why am I here?”

Statements-continuedPhysical or emotional

condition: “My medicine makes me feel suicidal”; “My doctor says I only have a few weeks to live”; I’m on a pain pill for my….”; “I took some of my wife’s pills for…”; “I got so trashed last night” (this could be a case for reasonable suspicion testing……!)

Rambling; mumbling; repetitive, and/or incoherent.

Extreme “Black & White” viewpoints; stances on religious & ethnic groups, or opposite sex.

Physical signs & symptomsHe looked like what? She smelled like what?

Unusual cuts on forearms and/or legs

Smell of alcoholPinpoint or dilated

pupilsSlurring wordsBlack eyesSmacking mouth; tacky

soundPowder residue on face

or clothing (unrelated to work)

DroolingDarting, nervous eyesSweating in cooler

temperaturesTwitching (when they

normally do not)Pale and/or waxy

appearance to faceTremulousness of hands,

head, or arms.

Work ClothingShe wore what? What color was it?

Wearing clothing items not normally associated with work or their character

That which is deemed unsafe, inappropriate for the job, work station, and/or project at hand.

Soiled clothingObvious bodily fluids on

clothes

Work StationUnkemptDevoid of appropriate

equipment for the taskLeft in unsafe conditionAbandonedPresence of prohibitive

substances (includes firearms) and/or paraphernalia

Work EquipmentHe did what with

what?She threw what?

Strange set-up of work equipment

Pattern of equipment missing, broken, not used for intended purpose

Equipment “loaned out” against protocols

Brings in non-approved work tools

Objects* What IS this item?* Does it belong at work station?* Who does it belong to?* Suspicious appearance, size, shape or smell?*Clearly a violation of company policy (prohibitive substance/firearm)?* Obstruction to a safe working environment?

Now, what do I do?

•Use best judgment at the time of observation.•If you feel behaviors, statements, clothing, work station, equipment, or other items at work station need addressed, then get support of supervision NOW and go to the employee!

Safety First!•NEVER place self or others in harm’s way-leave the area if imminent danger and notify others NOW!•Yell: “EVERYBODY GET OUT NOW!”•If a person is INTENT, has the MEANS, and OPPORTUNITY, they WILL do harm to self or others!

Confidential, if possible!Safety is FIRST! But respond quickly!

Isolate person so as to not draw any unnecessary attention to the situation UNLESS you need assistance or witness, i.e., person refuses to stop engaging in safe behavior, refuses to shut off machine.

What do I say?

• Is there an opportunity to talk with the person? Do so: ask the questions:

• A. Are you OK?• B. Tell me why you (are dressed a certain way,

look so tired, shouted at co-worker, etc..)?• C. Tell me more……keep the person talking in

order to gather more observations based on what they say and how they say it.

Do a quick “30-second Look/see”Observe the

person’s face for telltale physical signs & symptoms

Smell any odors?How are they

speaking?What are they

saying?How are they

moving?What are they

holding?

More of a “Look/See”Are they responsive

to directives?Are you needing to

repeat directives?Do they look

confused, fatigued, drugged, “wired”, agitated, sad, crying, angry, sick, etc…?

Make a decision!

Make the determination if there is a need for substance abuse testing, ambulance (medical situation), or the police.

Follow-up on decision: take to testing facility, call police, and/or fire personnel!

Do Not:Don’t do it! Enflame the person!

Touch a person unless to defend yourself or others or prevent self or others from an unsafe act.

Overreact-will escalate the situation BUT you can be strongly directive if situation calls for it.

Ignore your observations or your company’s P & Ps!

Ignore employees’ reports of behaviors.

Dismiss behaviors as “Well, that’s just Mary…”

Consider:What if this happened

in MY business?

What would I do THEN?

Error on the side of safety-always!

Trust your gut-it is usually “right on!”

If you feel you might be over-reacting, then start by telling the employee just that , THEN tell them it’s because it’s YOUR JOB TO ASK!

Employees will be grateful you are noticing and responding.

It will show employees who are not following the rules that you DO NOT IGNORE situations!

Sends a message to all that the company cares about the safety of its employees.

What if no emergency?If after investigation,

the behaviors do not warrant: drug test, ambulance or police, consider what else would be appropriate.

Need for more training?

Need for a write-up?Need for a

management referral to the EAP?

To summarize:Be AWARE!You CARE!DARE to intervene!

Not only is the company counting on you, but FAMILIES are too!

Closing Comments• Support one another

as supervisors.• Ask questions of each

other if concerned about certain employees.

• Keep vigilant and as present as possible throughout ALL company plant locations.

• If employees disclose personal problems to you, immediately refer them to your EAP-give them an EAP wallet card or brochure & follow-up with them!

• Make sure EAP posters and literature are very present & available to all.

I wish you all the BEST!

• Contact LifeServices EAP for

more information about our

comprehensive benefit for

employees & management.

•1-800-822-4847 or call Margie Roop • 330-329-3767

•mroop@lifeserviceseap.com

•“Personal Service, Every Time!”