A Commitment to Community Safety
North Seattle Community College is concerned for, and committed to, our employees' and students' safety and health. We will not tolerate violence in the workplace, and we will make every reasonable effort to prevent it by implementing a Workplace Violence Prevention Program (WVPP). We will provide adequate authority and budgetary resources for our WVPP goals to be met.
Workplace Violence: "Violence" or "violent act" means any physical assault or verbal threat of physical assault against a campus community member.
RCW 49.19.010 (et seq)
- Responsibilities
- Accessible Information and effective communication
- Training and Education
- Supportive Services
- Weapons Policy
- Sanctions in Response to Incidents or Threats of Workplace Violence
Responsibilities
All administrators, classified staff, and faculty are expected to assist in maintaining a safe and secure work environment. Employees are responsible for complying with our WVPP, which requires:
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Prompt and accurate reporting of all violent incidents or threats of violence whether or not physical injury has occurred
Use of safe work practices
Adherence to all safety directives, policies, and procedures
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Open communication among all employees on all workplace safety, health, and security issues.
Administrators and Managers
The College President is responsible for ensuring that all safety and health policies and procedures involving workplace security and safety are clearly communicated and implemented by all employees.
The Workplace Violence Prevention Program Administrator is the Vice President of Student Development, who has the authority and responsibility for implementing the provisions of this program and for regularly assessing its effectiveness, notwithstanding current agreements.
Administrators and managers are responsible for:
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Promptly assessing the safety concerns of the entire campus community and taking action to protect the safety of the campus community and the victim(s) of workplace violence.
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Ensuring that all safety and health policies and procedures related to workplace security are clearly communicated, understood, and complied with by employees.
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Applying related policies and procedures fairly and uniformly.
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Ensuring the confidentiality of the parties, as appropriate. Also, disseminating information of violent occurrences within the college community at large.
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Protecting employees who report incidents or threats of violence from discrimination or retaliation. Threats of violence can be broadly defined as
Willful intimidation or malicious harassment
Belligerent language
Threats of bodily injury
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Threats of violence, assault, or placing a person in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or property.
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Informing the employees they supervise about our Workplace Violence Prevention Program and making copies of the WVPP policy statement and guidelines readily available to them.
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In addition to computer posting of crime information and safety issues, taking other actions to notify employees of crime and safety issues, such as personal contact, notification at staff meetings, and bulletin board postings.
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Advocating, monitoring, and enforcing employees' compliance with workplace security measures.
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Advising employees who do not comply with the WVPP.
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Initiating an investigation to determine and document facts and circumstances concerning workplace violence issues.
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Initiating disciplinary action for employees' failure to comply with workplace safety and security policies and procedures in accordance with applicable contract agreements and applicable state and federal law.
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Reporting incidents of violence, threats of violence, or the presence of a firearm or other dangerous weapon on campus to security office personnel for the maintenance of records in that office.
All Employees
All employees are responsible for:
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Attending a WVPP orientation session within the first 60 days of employment.
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Adhering to work practices that are designed to ensure a more secure workplace. This includes following all directives, policies, and procedures aimed at maintaining a safe and secure work environment.
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Promptly and accurately reporting all violent incidents or threats of violence on campus to her/his administrator/supervisor and to security personnel, whether or not physical injury has occurred.
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Familiarizing themselves with these WVPP guidelines located in the Safety and Security section of the NSCC public folders in Microsoft Outlook or Exchange.
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Familiarizing themselves with Emergency Procedures located on the college's website.
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Reading the monthly crime information summary. Summaries are available from
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The NSCC Safety and Security public folder (Microsoft Exchange/Outlook)
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The Polaris campus newspaper
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Notifying security personnel and administrators/supervisors if they believe that any person not designated to carry a weapon has a firearm or other dangerous weapon on campus.
Response to Violence in the Workplace
Employees who engage in violence in the workplace will be disciplined in accordance with applicable contract agreements and related SCCD policy and procedures and applicable state and federal laws.
If an employee, as a victim of workplace violence, wants a police investigation of the case, the employee must request police involvement unless the seriousness of the injuries or circumstances of the incident interfere with the employee's ability to initiate the call. Police involvement is strongly recommended in all cases of workplace violence; the college may be required to contact appropriate authorities depending on the circumstances.
Workplace Violence Prevention Committee
| Name | Title | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roy Flores | Vice President, Student Services | 206-527-3656 | rflores@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Jeff Caldwell | Manager, Security | 206-527-3646 | jcaldwel@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Rodolfo Franco | Classified Union Representative | 206-527-7652 | rfranco@sccd.ctc.edu |
| David Eberhardt | Faculty Senate Representative | 206-527-5665 | deberhardt@sccd.ctc.edu |
| David Bittenbender | Human Resources, Representative | 206-526-7792 | dbittenbender@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Bernie Kay | Safety & Security Committee Representative | 206-527-5666 | bkay@sccd.ctc.edu |
| Student Representative |
The Workplace Violence Prevention Committee is responsible for:
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Assessing vulnerability to workplace violence and for recommending preventive actions.
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Developing employee-orientation programs on violence prevention and for recommending practices that ensure employee compliance with workplace security directives, policies, and procedures.
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Developing processes for reporting and plans for responding to threats or acts of violence.
Security Office Personnel
The Security Office is responsible for maintaining and distributing records of certain incidents reported to Security and the local police in accordance with The Campus Security Act of 1998 (et seq). They are also responsible for notifying the appropriate college administrator following reports of violent incidents, threats of violence, or the presence of a firearm or other dangerous weapon on campus. Personnel in the Security Office will also assist any employee in obtaining a Seattle District Court or a King County Superior Court no-contact order or anti-harassment order.
Human Resources Office
The Human Resources Representative will ensure that new employees receive a copy of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program and that it is discussed at new employee orientations. A record keeping system will be maintained to ensure that all employees participate in the WVPP training.
Students
Students are required to adhere to all SCCD Policies and the stipulations of WAC 132F-120-100. Irresponsible behavior and violations of proper conduct (as identified by WAC 132F-121-110) may result in sanctions.
Accessible Information And Effective Communication
The College has a communication system that encourages clear and open communication between management and employees and provides a continuous flow of safety, health, and security information that is readily available and understandable.
The WVPP communication system is designed to encourage a continuous flow of readily understandable safety, health, and security information between administration and employees. The system is comprised of the following elements:
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All new full-time and part-time employees receive an orientation to the workplace safety and security policies, procedures, and work practices, including the procedure for employees to inform administration about workplace security hazards or threats of violence.
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A copy of the WVPP policy statement and guidelines is available to all employees in the public folders and on the Security Office website.
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Supervisors annually review the Workplace Violence Prevention Program with all personnel.
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Upon request to the Security Office, informational materials are available regarding the magnitude of the workplace violence problem in the United States and the role of firearms and other dangerous weapons in this violence.
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The Safety Committee meets the third Wednesday of each month at 8:30am to discuss issues, including workplace security. These meetings are open to the campus community. Contact the Security Office for meeting location.
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Workplace security information updates are posted in the Safety and Security section of the NSCC public folders in Microsoft Exchange/Outlook and distributed monthly to NSCC employees who have college email addresses.
Training And Education
The College delivers information and provides training to all employees to promote and ensure workplace safety and security. Employees are educated and trained on specific aspects of workplace security unique to our campus community through the following resources:
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Employee orientation on workplace security policies, procedures, and work practices.
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Review by supervisors of the Workplace Violence Prevention Program with all personnel as part of the regular performance review process.
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Other training required by state law.
Some warning signs of potentially violent individuals:
Irrational beliefs and ideas
Verbal, nonverbal, or written threats or intimidation
Obsession with weapons and/or acts of violence
Expressions of a plan to hurt oneself or others
Externalization of blame
Unrequited romantic obsession
Taking up much of a supervisor's time with behavior or performance problems
Drastic change in belief systems
Displays of unwarranted anger
New or increased source of stress at home or work
Inability to take criticism
Feelings of being victimized
Intoxication from alcohol or other substances
Expressions of hopelessness or heightened anxiety
Theft or sabotage of projects or equipment
Demonstrating a lack of concern for the safety of others.
Investigations into every incident of workplace violence have revealed several of these traits in the suspects' history profile which manifested them, sometimes subtly, before the incident. Threats from off-campus individuals usually have something to do with someone on campus.
Supportive Services
The College demonstrates its commitment to workplace safety issues by providing an array of supportive services to members of the college community. The following services are available to members of the college community:
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Any employee concerned about personal safety may request an escort (e.g., to a parking lot off premises) or other appropriate intervention by Security Office personnel.
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All employees are eligible for confidential counseling or other needed assistance immediately after the incident. Victims of workplace violence are encouraged to contact the Employee Assistance Program.
Weapons Policy
To the extent allowed by law, the college prohibits employees, students, or visitors from carrying weapons in College facilities or on College property. Any employee or student in possession of a firearm or other weapon within College property or while otherwise fulfilling job responsibilities may face disciplinary action, including termination or expulsion. Possession of a valid concealed weapons permit authorized by the State of Washington is not an exemption under this policy. Firearms or other dangerous weapons include, but may not be limited to, the following (see RCW 9.41.270 & RCW 9.41.250 (et seq) for definitions and exemptions):
Any device from which a projectile may be fired by an explosive
Any simulated firearm operated by gas or compressed air
Sling shot
Sand club
Metal knuckles
Any spring blade knife
Any knife which opens or is ejected open by an outward, downward thrust or movement
Any instrument that can be used as a weapon and poses a reasonable risk of injury
Sanctions In Response To Incidents Or Threats Of Workplace Violence
The college will sanction employees according to applicable documents, including employee contracts/agreements, WAC, and RCW references.
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