Workplace Violence Awareness

Talking points

1. Workplace violence is not limited to active shooter scenarios. It includes verbal threats, intimidation, harassment, and physical confrontations — and construction sites are not immune.
2. Risk factors on construction sites include disputes between workers or subcontractors, trespassers, theft, and interactions with the public near roadway or urban work.
3. If you feel threatened by a co-worker, subcontractor, or member of the public, remove yourself from the situation and report it immediately. Do not try to resolve it yourself.
4. De-escalation techniques: speak calmly and slowly, avoid aggressive body language, do not argue or challenge, maintain a safe distance, and give the person space to exit the situation.
5. Know your company's reporting procedures. Every threat must be taken seriously and documented — even if it seems minor. Patterns of behavior are only visible when individual incidents are reported.

Ask the crew

Does everyone know who to report threats or uncomfortable situations to — and do you feel safe doing so?

Standards this talk is built on

• Section 5(a)(1)

A toolbox talk is a short safety briefing. It supports the training a standard requires; it does not replace it.

Sign-in sheet

Print this page to collect signatures, or run the talk in Jobsite and workers sign in on their phones.

© Jobsite. Free to read aloud, print and use in your own crew's safety meetings. Republishing, reselling or bulk-copying these talks is not permitted.