JUN 12, 1995

The news media remind us almost daily that we live in an environment that is becoming increasingly more violent.  Many of our employees have been exposed to violence or threats of violence in their daily lives, and a significant number are concerned about the potential for violence in the workplace.  For these reasons, I believe it is important to set forth PHS policy on this subject.

Employees shall be protected as fully as possible from assaults, threats, intimidation, and harassment while at the work site.  Thus, it is essential that we make clear to all PHS employees that violence, threats of violence, intimidating and otherwise similar disruptive behavior are unacceptable conduct that will not be tolerated.  This policy also applies to contractors who are not employees but who work in PHS facilities.

In order to minimize the potential for violence in the workplace and to ensure that prompt corrective action can be taken when it does occur, anyone working in PHS facilities, who witnesses or becomes aware of threats or acts of violence from any source must immediately report what he/she has observed or learned to appropriate agency officials, as set forth below, and/or law enforcement authorities.  Employees are also expected to cooperate fully in any subsequent investigations.  We do not want employees to place themselves at unnecessary personal risk in dangerous situations; however, we expect them to make immediate contact with an agency official who can respond appropriately, such as a supervisor, security officer, EEO or human resource officials.

In turn, officials receiving these reports are required to immediately and appropriately act upon them.

If anyone observes a violent act or a threat posing imminent danger, his/her immediate response should be to call 911.  Immediately thereafter, he/she should inform his/her supervisor and the appropriate security office.

Please distribute the attached policy statement to all employees in your organization and ensure that the issue of workplace violence and this policy are discussed in staff meetings so that any questions or concerns about implementation of the policy can be promptly addressed.  The implementation of a comprehensive PHS Workplace Violence Prevention Program is a priority for me, and all employees, supervisors and managers are expected to support this initiative on a continuing basis.  A PHS task force, comprised of representatives of a variety of disciplines from all PHS agencies, has been convened for this purpose.  The task force will develop a plan of action to address this critical issue in detail.

Our intention is to make the workplace safe where dignity, respect, and fairness are basic human rights.  PHS employees, who commit or threaten to commit violent acts or acts of intimidation against anyone in the workplace, will be disciplined in accordance with governing policies and procedures for addressing employee misconduct and/or referred for action as appropriate under local and state law.

Collective Bargaining Officials should provide a copy of the PHS policy statement and this memorandum to recognized unions.  Any obligation to negotiate must be satisfied before distributing or implementing the policy within existing bargaining units.

Attachment (below)

Threatening, intimidating, violent or similar disruptive behavior in the workplace is unacceptable conduct. It is the policy of the Public Health Service (PHS) that there will be zero tolerance for such acts. PHS will take appropriate action necessary to ensure that every employee has a work environment: free from threatening behavior and violence.

Date:  JUN 12 1995