Environmental Risk Factors

Environmental risk factors are those that are attributable to the layout, design, and amenities of the physical workspace. Environmental risks fall into four categories and include factors that:

• Provide opportunity to gain access or avoid detection such as unmonitored entries or stairwells, insufficient lighting, blind corners, unsecured rooms or closets.
• Increase stress such as signage that is confusing, poor weather conditions, difficulty parking or accessing a building, insufficient heat or air conditioning, and disturbing noise levels.
• Provide opportunities to be used as weapons such as unsecured furniture, fixtures, decorative items, office or medical supplies.
• Limit staff's ability to appropriately respond to violent incidents such as the lack of security systems, alarms, or devices.