Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 001 Hazard: UNCLASS

Section 5(a)(1) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970: The employer does not furnish employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm to employees in that employees are exposed to workplace violence: During the performance of regularly assigned duties, employees of Texas EZ Money, LP, who work at the loan service store #44032, are exposed to workplace violence hazards that are likely to cause death or serious physical harm. This violation was discovered on or about October 29, 2010, at a workplace located at 2774 E. Trinity Mills, Suite 104, Carrollton, TX 75006; where the employer did not develop and implement adequate measures to protect employees from physical assault in the workplace. Among other methods to correct the recognized hazard, one feasible and acceptable method is to follow OSHA 3153-12R 2009, Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs which include but are not limited to the following: 1.Conduct a physical security survey and assessment of premises which considers (a) Workplace design: Reduce the risk of robbery through counter design and layout. The layout should maximize employee safety, limiting customer access to employee work areas; (b) Security devices; (c) Parking lot design/vehicular traffic flow. 2.Implement a workplace violence policy and prevention program and ensure the policy and prevention program is communicated to employees. Develop an effective training program that focuses on workplace violence prevention hazards, including recognition of behavioral cues preceding violence. Train employees on scenarios likely to be encountered during an armed robbery/assault, and actions employees are expected to implement during an armed robbery/assault. Develop an effective organizational policy and training procedures, which focuses on detailed procedures for opening/ closing/ money-drop to the safe. Ensure training is conducted routinely (monthly / quarterly). Ensure management officials are involved in the process. 3.Adopt a process that encourages employees to report workplace violence, and develop a means of tracking employee complaints and address employee concerns about violence in the workplace. 4.Employee Scheduling: (a) Ensure employees are not assigned shifts of work alone; (b) Analyze employee mix for any given work shift. 5.Establish a rapport with the local Police department. Engage local government officials to find ways to improve local response times. Pursuant to 29 C.F.R. 1903.19, within ten (10) calendar days of the abatement date, the employer must submit an abatement plan describing the actions it is taking to develop and implement procedure to protect employees from physical assault in the workplace.