The key to dealing with potential workplace violence is

• A. Early intervention
• B. Immediate confrontation
• C. Silence
• D. Escalation

Answer: (A)

Dealing with potential workplace violence relies on early recognition and proactive action to prevent an incident from developing. Spotting warning signs—unsettling behavior, threats, sudden spikes in anger, or escalating stress—and quickly engaging the right people and resources (supervisors, HR, security, or employee assistance programs) allows you to intervene, address underlying issues, and adjust the work environment or duties to reduce risk. This approach aims to calm the situation, connect the person with support, and put safety measures in place before anything violent occurs.

Immediate confrontation can trigger a violent response or make things worse, while silence lets problems grow unchecked and escalation increases the harm that could occur. Therefore, intervening early is the most effective way to protect people and maintain a safe workplace.