Flood, hurricane, earthquake, the death of your delivery driver on the highway! No workplace, no organization is immune to traumas. Trauma is inevitable. However, only 8% of workplaces have indicated that they have policies to address the inevitable trauma or violence the employees will experience. Managers must know that what happens to other organizations can happen at their facility. Accept the fact that trauma and violence can happen to your organization and it is sudden and it can be overwhelming. Prevention strategies are highlighted in this treatise. Progressive Disciplining must supplement prevention. (Read Positive and Progressive Disciplining available at www.abp.ca.) It is within the organization's legal responsibility and legal liability to plan for and to implement policies that are designed to provide a safe workplace for employees. Many traumatic events are preventable. Natural disasters are not preventable but employers should be able to respond in a manner that will reduce the immediate follow up dangers and stresses incurred by employees.

Trauma cases include suicide, deaths, accidental deaths, critical injuries on the job, fire or explosions, armed robbery, attacks from vendors or customers, clients/patients, assaults, sexual assaults, threats, traumatic events caused by persons with mental disorders, medical trauma, and natural disasters. These events are inevitable in the workplace and severely affect all employees. Traumatic events require some preparation. How to manage and to provide technical and personal assistance to facilitate recovery are part of this treatise.