Workplace Violence Prevention Plan

The purpose of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program is to address potential workplace violence, prevent workplace violence from occurring to the fullest extent possible, and set forth procedures when such incidents occur. We aim to provide information to administrators, supervisors, and employees about prevention and response.

The goals of the program are:

1.       To reduce the probability of threats or acts of violence in the workplace; and

2.       To ensure that incidents, complaints, or reports of violence are addressed in a timely manner.

The Pine Plains Central School District is committed to providing its employees with a reasonably safe and secure work environment. The Pine Plains Central School District Board of Education Policy Statement on the WVP Program will be clearly posted in each building as well as on our website to advise all employees on how and when to report.

Statement

Policy

The term “workplace violence” is defined as any physical assault or acts of aggressive behavior occurring where a public employee performs any work-related duty in the course of their employment, including but not limited to:

·         An attempt or threat, whether verbal or physical, to inflict physical injury upon the employee;

·         Any intentional display of force that would give an employee reason to fear or expect bodily harm;

·         Intentional and wrongful physical contact with a person without their consent that entails some injury; 

·         Possession of a weapon while on district property or while engaged in district business; and

·         Stalking an employee with the intent of causing fear of material harm to the physical safety and health of the employee when such stalking has arisen through and in the course of employment. 

All Pine Plains Central School District employees are required to comply with this program. In addition, visitors of Pine Plains Central School District-owned property and facilities are required to conduct themselves in a non-violent manner in conformity with the Code of Conduct and existing law. Employees who observe or experience visitors of Pine Plains Central School District property engaging in violent behavior should follow the procedures for the reporting of such behavior in our policy.

Violence or other physically disruptive behavior by or against an employee of the Pine Plains Central School District is unacceptable. Adults who commit such acts may be removed from the premises and may be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. This could include termination of employment and/or criminal penalties, when legally appropriate. Students who engage in physically disruptive or hurtful ways with staff may experience a range of remediation procedures or disciplinary consequences. Changes may be required to better protect the safety and welfare of both our staff and student populations. The Pine Plains Central School District will conduct regular review of the program with stakeholders to amend or expand the program as needed.

All Pine Plains Central School District employees will be informed of the requirements of the law, the risk factors in their workplace, and the location of the written Workplace Violence Protection Program. Training is required for employees on the measures they can take to protect themselves from the risks identified in the assessment and the details of the written Workplace Violence Protection Program. Employee workplace violence training will be provided annually, and will include a range of topics, developed in partnership with district stakeholders.

Training is being provided by SafeSchools:

https://pineplains-ny.safeschools.com/login

An effective reporting system: (1) protects Pine Plains Central School District employees from harm in the workplace; (2) assists management in its effort to maintain a safe and productive work environment; and (3) ensures management the opportunity to investigate and determine the cause(s) and make recommendations to minimize recurrence. All workplace violence incident reports must be in writing.

Any employee who witnesses or encounters any act of violence should do the following:

·         Call 911, when imminent danger is present, as appropriate.

·         Immediately notify their supervisor and/or Human Resources, as appropriate.

·         Complete and submit the “Workplace Violence Incident Report” available online and in the main/front office of each building and submit the completed form to the appropriate supervisor. The Pine Plains Central School District will then take necessary action. Any employee who believes that an imminent danger exists should bring the matter to their supervisor’s immediate attention. 

Supervisors/managers should approach such situations with caution, balancing the need to maintain an orderly workplace with personal safety. Following notification, Pine Plains Central School District management will be given reasonable time to take corrective action. If no such action has been taken, the employee or their representative may inform the Commissioner of Labor of the danger and request that an inspection be conducted. Such a request must be in writing and include, with a reasonable level of specificity, the grounds of the notice. 

The Pine Plains Central School District is prohibited by law from taking any retaliatory action against any employee who: (1) has made Pine Plains Central School District management aware of what the employee deems to be an imminent danger; (2) has requested that the Commissioner of Labor conduct an inspection; or (3) accompanies the Commissioner during an inspection of the Pine Plains Central School District, pursuant to §27-b.6 of Article 2 of the State Labor Law. 12 NYCRR Part 800.6(g)(2)(viii)

Note: Nothing in this part shall require the disclosure of information otherwise kept confidential for security reasons. Such information may include information, which, if disclosed would:

·         Interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings;

·         Deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication;

·         Identify a confidential source or disclose confidential information relating to a criminal investigation;

·         Reveal criminal investigative techniques or procedures, except routine techniques and procedures; or

·         Endanger the life or safety of any person.

Certain factors or situations may place employees at a greater risk of workplace violence. This workplace evaluation is based on reviews of the DOL Survey of Workplace Violence Prevention and/or occupational injury and illness logs and incident reports for violence-related injuries and surveys of all Pine Plains Central School District facilities, conducted by the Pine Plains Central School District.

Workplace violence can occur in any workplace setting. However, some settings or factors may pose a greater degree of workplace violence risk. Employment situations or factors that may pose higher risks for Pine Plains Central School District employees include, but are not limited to:

·         Working in public settings

·         Working alone in small numbers

·         Having a mobile workplace assignment

·         Worker-on-worker workplace violence 

All Pine Plains Central School District sites were surveyed along with authorized employee representatives, and hazards were identified. The Records Examination and Risk Evaluations conducted and the methods and means by which the hazards are being addressed are listed in the Appendix.

The program shall adhere to the following hierarchy of controls: engineering controls, work practice controls, and personal protective equipment.

The Pine Plains Central School District will review and update this program on an annual basis. Such review and update shall set forth any mitigating steps taken in response to any incident of workplace violence.

• Dr. Brian Timm, Superintendent
• Mrs. Julia Tomaine, Personnel Administrator
• Mrs. Laura Rafferty, Business Official
• Mr. Gian Starr, Director of Curriculum and Instruction
• Mrs. Janine Babcock, Director of Pupil Personnel Services
• Mr. Christopher Boyd, Principal, Stissing Mountain Jr./Sr. High School
• Mrs. Sara Von Burg, Stissing Assistant Principal
• Ms. Julie Roberts, Principal, Seymour Smith Intermediate Learning Center
• Mrs. Kristen Fischetti, Principal, Cold Spring Early Learning Center
• Ms. Lauren Ross, Transportation Supervisor
• Mr. Richard McKibben, Director of Facilities
• Mr. Christopher Wyant, Head Custodian
• Mrs. Heather Berardo, Teacher
• Mrs. Elizabeth Murray, School Psychologist
• Mrs. Jennifer McCord, Teaching Assistant
• Mrs. Patricia Audenino, Superintendent's Secretary
• Mrs. Jennifer Heath, RN
• Mrs. Jennifer Funk, RN
• Ms. Greta Anderson, RN
• Mr. James Griffin, BOE Member
• Deputy Ashley Stroka, SRO
• Mr. Michael McCarthy, Maintenance Worker
• Mr. Brian Walsh, Maintenance Worker / Community Member

• Workplace Violence Prevention Program Statement
• BOE Policy 8130.2 Workplace Violence Prevention
• DOL Survey of Workplace Violence Prevention
• DCSSAC - Spotting Signs of Targeted Violence