Support Systems for Victims Toolbox Talk

Workers affected by workplace violence may not always have visible injuries. Threats, bullying, harassment, stalking, intimidation, assault, or personal disputes brought onto the jobsite can leave a worker shaken, distracted, afraid to return, or unsure who to trust.

This talk focuses on support systems for victims and affected crew members. The goal is to make sure workers know where to get help, how to report concerns, and how the crew can support someone without gossip, blame, or retaliation.

Why This Matters

• Victims may have trouble focusing around tools, equipment, heights, traffic, trenches, and energized systems.
• Workers are more likely to speak up when they know they will be taken seriously.
• Support after an incident helps prevent repeat threats, retaliation, or further harm.
• Clear support systems help supervisors respond with facts instead of rumors.
• A crew that protects victims also protects witnesses and anyone else who may be at risk.

Common Hazards

• A worker staying silent because they fear retaliation, blame, or losing work.
• Gossip, jokes, or side comments after someone reports threats, harassment, or assault.
• A victim being pressured to work near the person who threatened or harmed them.
• Witnesses avoiding reports because they do not want to get involved.
• Supervisors failing to control access points, parking areas, break areas, or isolated work zones after a threat.
• Threatening texts, calls, emails, voicemails, photos, or social media posts continuing after the first report.
• Workers assuming someone is fine because they returned to work or said they were okay.
• A personal relationship dispute following a worker to the site after the crew already knew there was a concern.

Safety Checklist

Before Work Begins

• Know who workers can contact for support, such as the foreman, superintendent, safety contact, HR, security, or employee assistance resource.
• Review how to make a private report away from the crew.
• Identify safe areas where a victim or witness can go if they feel threatened.
• Confirm emergency contacts, site address, access points, and security procedures are available.
• Make sure workers understand that retaliation against a victim or witness is not allowed.

During Work

• Take reports of threats, harassment, stalking, intimidation, assault, or bullying seriously.
• Listen without blaming, judging, teasing, or pushing for details the worker is not ready to share.
• Move the affected worker away from the person or area involved when possible.
• Report ongoing threats, unwanted contact, or retaliation immediately.
• Save messages, voicemails, photos, or other evidence if it is safe to do so.
• Do not share the worker’s personal information, schedule, location, or report details with people who do not need to know.
• Call emergency services if there is immediate danger, a weapon, assault, or serious threat.

Crew Talking Points

• Who can a worker talk to privately after a threat, assault, harassment, or bullying incident?
• How can the crew support someone without spreading rumors or taking matters into their own hands?
• What should witnesses report if they saw or heard the incident?
• How do we keep a victim separated from the person involved while work is being reviewed?
• What areas of this site may need extra attention after a threat, such as gates, parking, trailers, restrooms, or isolated work zones?
• Does anyone have a question, concern, or support need they want to raise before work starts?

Stop Work If

• A victim or witness feels unsafe continuing work.
• The person involved returns to the area, makes contact, or refuses to stay away.
• There are new threats, harassment, stalking, intimidation, or retaliation.
• A weapon is seen, mentioned, suspected, or brought onto the jobsite.
• A worker is being pressured to stay quiet or change their report.
• The incident creates distraction or fear near equipment, ladders, scaffolds, trenches, traffic, energized systems, or suspended loads.

Final Reminder

Victims and witnesses need support, privacy, and protection from retaliation. Take every report seriously and get help before the risk grows.