Enclosure (1) to COMDTINST 5370.1A
SECTION I INTRODUCTION
Violence in the workplace can have devastating effects on the productivity of organizations and on
the quality of life of employees. The purpose of this document is to provide you with a reference
and guidance for responding appropriately to threats, reports of threats, suspicious activities, or
questions that arise regarding certain workplace violence situations.
It is important to recognize that violence is a workplace hazard. You must take all reasonable steps
to protect employees and others in the workplace from violent incidents that may result in injury or
harm and also to protect Government and personal property. The attitude of "it is not my problem"
is not realistic or practical. Your first step should be to fill in the emergency numbers on the back
of this booklet right now and keep them readily available.
Supervisors and managers are responsible for ensuring that employees understand that it is the
employee's responsibility to report threatening remarks or behavior or destructive or suspicious
activities. All employees need to know exactly what to do when they have witnessed or received a
threat. Even without an actual threat, employees should report behaviors or activities they regard as
threatening, suspicious, or potentially violent. Supervisors and managers who receive such reports
shall evaluate, investigate, and take appropriate action(s) consistent with these guidelines.
Your Human Resources (HR) staff is responsible for consulting with supervisors and managers to
assist in formulating an appropriate response plan. They will provide technical assistance on any
corrective or precautionary measures that may be appropriate.
The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is responsible for consulting with management and HR
on an appropriate response plan, and providing short-term counseling and referral service to
employees. Management may refer employees who are experiencing personal problems that may
be impacting their performance or conduct to the EAP; however, employee participation is entirely
voluntary.
Employees are responsible for reporting threats, suspicious activities, or acts of violence to their
supervisor, regardless of the relationship between the individual who initiated the threat or
threatening behavior and the person(s) who were threatened or were the focus of the threatening
behavior. It does not matter when or where the threats occurred. Supervisors must act upon any
employee report of threats. Employees reporting threats shall not be subject to interference,
coercion, discrimination, penalty, censure, or reprisal as a result of these reports.
The Department of Transportation is committed to ensuring the safety and security of its
employees. Threats, threatening behavior, or acts of violence against employees, visitors, guests, or
other individuals by anyone on departmental property shall not be tolerated or ignored.
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