Reducing violence and sabotage in airports: The use of threat assessment to manage employee threats

Abstract

Airport managers face an array of threats and risks to airport operations, including risks from airport employees, contractors, vendors and others with authorised access. Like managers in other workplace settings, airport managers need tools to address employee threats of harm, sabotage or violence. Those who engage in violence or sabotage in the workplace often show warning signs before they engage in harm. This paper reviews pre-attack behaviours, communications and other warning signs of potential workplace violence or sabotage. It describes threat assessment, an investigative process that has been used successfully in other workplace settings to investigate threats and intervene before harm could occur. The paper also outlines the steps needed to create a threat assessment capacity to investigate and manage airport employee threats.