Violence In The Workplace Can Lead To A Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Claim

Violence in the workplace may not be the first thing you think about when considering those who may need to file a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim, but the truth is that this type of injury is the third leading cause of workplace injury.   

There are a variety of ways a workplace can be affected by violence and it is one of the more unpredictable ways you can become injured at work.  While most injuries that occur while you’re working are accidental, workplace injuries that occur as the result of violence are often unforeseen, but would not be characterized as accidental.   It is for this reason that violence in the workplace can be hard to predict and difficult to prevent, but there are some things you can do to avoid getting into an altercation.  

First, it is important to know where violence in the workplace may come from.  In fact, if you’re in a workplace that has you interacting with multiple stakeholders you could experience violence from a variety of different ways.  For instance, you could get into an altercation with a co-worker over something that is happening in the workplace.  If you interface with customers, you may get into an altercation where a customer becomes violent and can cause you to experience an injury.  Vendors are also another subset of the population who may become violent and put you in a situation where you become injured at work.  

When you’re working with a variety of people who come from different backgrounds and approach the world differently there are a number of ways you could become entangled in a violent exchange.  Violence in the workplace is never acceptable and while it can be unavoidable, there are some things you can do to protect yourself from becoming engaged in the types of behaviors that can lead to violent altercations.

1. Stay calm.  It can be quite challenging to be in an altercation with someone that is becoming heated and may be out of control with anger or frustration, but the best thing you can do to deescalate the situation is to keep your cool and remember that the one thing you can control is your response to the situation.

2. Report any signs of impending verbal or physical violence.  No matter who you are dealing with, if she/he becomes aggressive towards you or another co-worker you should immediately notify your supervisor or someone who can help de-escalate the situation and get you or your co-worker out of harm’s way.  While you may think it best to not agitate the person further by bringing someone new into the altercation it may de-escalate the situation to have a new voice added.  

3. Remove yourself from the situation.  Even when you do your best to remain calm, sometimes you may get wrapped up in an altercation which is causing you to develop anger toward the person you are engaged with.  If this is the case, the safest and most reasonable thing you can do is to remove yourself from the situation until it de-escalates and normal order can be restored.  Of course you don’t want to put others in harm’s way by leaving a situation, but this may be your only recourse to remain safe in the face of verbal or physical threats.

When you’re in a situation at work that may involve violence it can be extremely unpredictable.  If the threat of violence turns into real violence and results in an injury you may be able to file for a Connecticut workers’ compensation claim and be compensated for the injuries that you suffered.  Violence in the workplace is unfortunately too common of an occurrence and when it does occur you should do your best to de-escalate the situation or remove yourself from it so you are not put in harm’s way.

When an injury occurs at work, regardless of the circumstances you may need to speak with a board certified attorney.  Contact one of our experienced and workers’ compensation board certified attorneys who may be able to assist you with your situation and work with you to protect your long-term interests.