Workplace Violence Prevention Training
Resolution Education is a U.S. specialist Workplace Violence Prevention Training provider, and our training for employers and their staff is built around the A.D.P. Framework (Awareness, De-escalation, Protection), tailored to the people, places and situations U.S. organizations deal with.
What is Workplace Violence Prevention Training?
Workplace violence prevention training teaches employees and managers how to identify, prevent, de-escalate and respond to threats, aggression and violence at work. It gives frontline staff practical safety skills and helps leaders build the reporting, response and support systems that stop incidents from happening again.
OSHA defines workplace violence as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening behavior that occurs at the work site. Effective workplace violence training therefore covers far more than physical assault. It covers verbal abuse, threats, intimidation and the early warning signs that come before them.
For a broader look at causes, risk factors and statistics, see our guide to workplace violence and aggression.
Why Do U.S. Employers Need Workplace Violence Training?
U.S. employers have a legal duty to protect staff from recognized hazards, and in many workplaces violence is one of them. OSHA does not have a specific workplace violence standard, but under the General Duty Clause of the OSH Act, employers must provide a workplace free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm, and OSHA has used this clause to cite employers over workplace violence.
Some states and sectors go further:
- California – Senate Bill 553 has required most employers since July 1, 2024 to have a written Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, keep a violent incident log and train staff annually.
- New York retail – the Retail Worker Safety Act has required retailers with 10 or more employees since June 2, 2025 to have a written policy and provide workplace violence training, including de-escalation.
- Hospitals – The Joint Commission’s workplace violence prevention standards have required accredited hospitals since January 1, 2022 to train staff in de-escalation and physical intervention at hire and annually.
- Other states – a growing number have their own requirements, particularly for healthcare and retail.
Requirements vary by state and industry, so we review the obligations that apply to your organization during the planning stage and align the training to them.
What Types of Workplace Violence Does the Training Cover?
- Type 1 – Criminal intent: robbery, theft or violence by someone with no legitimate reason to be there, common in retail, convenience stores and late-night work.
- Type 2 – Customer, client or patient: aggression from the people your staff serve, the most common type in healthcare, social services, education and customer service.
- Type 3 – Worker-on-worker: threats, bullying, intimidation or violence between current or former employees.
- Type 4 – Personal relationship: domestic or intimate partner violence that follows an employee into the workplace.
Each type needs a different response, so the training is weighted toward the risks your workplace actually faces. Because worker-on-worker violence often starts as unresolved conflict between colleagues, many organizations pair this program with our workplace conflict resolution training.
Last updated October 2026What Our Workplace Violence and Aggression Course Covers
Our workplace violence and aggression course is structured around the three modules of the A.D.P. Framework:
Awareness – workplace violence risk factors, warning signs of escalating behavior, situational awareness, and why early reporting of threats and near-misses matters.
De-escalation – the communication skills to calm agitated or aggressive people before an incident becomes violent. This module draws on our de-escalation training.
Protection – personal safety, exits and barriers, raising the alarm, team response, simple breakaway techniques, and what to do after an incident, including reporting, debriefing and support for affected staff.
Workplace Aggressive Behavior Training for Every Level
Preventing workplace violence takes more than training the front line. We tailor workplace aggressive behavior training to each level of your organization:
- Frontline employees – recognizing risk, de-escalating aggression, staying safe and reporting incidents.
- Supervisors and managers – responding to reports, supporting staff after an incident, running debriefs and spotting patterns early.
- Leadership and HR – building a prevention plan, setting policy and assessing risk, supported by our policy creation and review and workplace environment assessment services.
Course Overview
Duration:
Delivery:
Location:
Capacity:
Up to 20 people for the day or an additional trainer can be organized
What To Wear:
Workplace Violence Prevention Training Options
- Face-to-face workplace violence course – customized half-day or full-day training at your workplace or a venue of your choice, for up to 20 people per trainer.
- Virtual workplace violence training – live online sessions for multi-site and remote teams.
- Workplace violence prevention eLearning – self-paced modules for onboarding and annual refreshers.
- Train-the-trainer – equips your internal trainers to deliver the program across your organization.
- Specialist add-ons – active shooter training and Behavioral Emergency Response Team (BERT) training for higher-risk environments.
Training is available across the USA and internationally.
How to Choose a Workplace Violence Prevention Training Provider
- is practical and scenario-based, with role-play rather than slides alone
- is customized to your industry, your roles and the incidents your staff actually report
- covers prevention, de-escalation and personal protection, not just one of them
- supports your Workplace Violence Prevention Plan, policies and state requirements
- offers eLearning and train-the-trainer options so the program lasts beyond training day
- is delivered by trainers with real frontline experience
Resolution Education Provides
- An excellent course of fun and interactive training including role-playing.
- Everything mentioned to the left
Workplace Violence Prevention Training FAQs
Is workplace violence prevention training required by law in the U.S.?
There is no single federal OSHA standard that requires it for all employers, but employers must protect staff from recognized hazards under the OSHA General Duty Clause. Some states and sectors do require it, including most California employers under SB 553, New York retail employers under the Retail Worker Safety Act, and Joint Commission accredited hospitals.
How long is a face-to-face workplace violence course?
Resolution Education’s face-to-face and virtual workplace violence courses run as a half-day or full-day session, customized to your team. eLearning modules can be completed at each person’s own pace.
What is the difference between workplace violence prevention training and de-escalation training?
Workplace violence prevention training covers the full picture: risk, policy, reporting, response and all four types of workplace violence. De-escalation training focuses on the in-the-moment communication skills used to calm an aggressive person, and forms one module of the wider program.
Can workplace violence training be delivered online?
Yes. Resolution Education delivers workplace violence prevention training face-to-face, as live virtual sessions and as self-paced eLearning.
Can you help with our Workplace Violence Prevention Plan?
Yes. Alongside training, Resolution Education offer policy creation and review and workplace environment assessments to help you build and maintain your plan.
Our Training & Services
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To enroll or find out more, please call +1 (888) 311-8650 or click the button below.
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Resolution Education USA
P. +1 (888) 311-8650
E. info@resolutioneducation.com
Head Office – Minnesota
2909 S Wayzata Blvd,
Minneapolis, MN 55405