Managing Threatening Situations
Though it is not always easy to stay calm in a threatening situation, all Health & Safety Executive research has shown that this is the best approach.
Lone workers should exercise self-control and avoid being provoked.
The ability to listen and pick up signals of stress and anger, and an awareness of one’s own actions and how they are perceived, will help to deal with a threatening situation.
Avoiding confrontation in either speech or gesture, and always appearing polite and sympathetic, will help to calm a dangerous situation.
Lone workers facing a physical threat should be prepared to leave, having noted beforehand that there were no obstacles to making a rapid exit.
Lone workers should ensure ease of access to their vehicles, and that there are no obstacles to prevent them driving away without delay.