While workplace violence may seem like it comes out of nowhere, there are measures that can be taken to avoid the likelihood of a violent incident occurring. “Quite frankly, ‘hope’ is not a strategy,” says Marilyn Knight, president and CEO of Incident Management Team. “There are indeed warning signs. There are things you can do. There are ways to mitigate threats, and you can take proactive steps so you’re not just sitting there at the mercy of something and hoping that somebody doesn’t do this.” One of the first things employers should do, Knight says, is to simply start the conversation. It’s important to emphasize that this type of training is meant to keep people safe. “We want to make sure that our entire workforce knows what early warning signs are, and that the program itself is seen as a benevolent and caring process,” Knight says. “It is about identifying people who may be at risk so we can help them help themselves before they reach a point where they feel like they have nothing left to lose or nothing left to live for.”