Preparing for and Responding to Trauma in the Workplace : A Manager's eGuide

Notice to the reader: The content found on this page is a snapshot of the document as it was presented to the public at the time of publication. The Workplace Health and Public Safety Programme (WHPSP) became the Emergency Preparedness and Occupational Health Directorate (EPOHD) in 2010. Find more information on EPOHD's roles and responsibilities.

Table of Contents

• Foreword
  
  
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1 Purpose of the Manager's eGuide
  • 1.2 Health and Safety of Federal Employees
    
• 2. Traumatic Events
  • 2.1 What Is a Traumatic Event?
  • 2.2 Traumatic Events in the Workplace
  • 2.3 Traumatic Events at Home
  • 2.4 Traumatic Events in the Community
  • 2.5 Emotional Impacts of Traumatic Events
    
• 3. Get Ready Now for Trauma in the Workplace - Emergency Preparedness and Planning
  • 3.1 Emergency Planning Tips
    
• 4. Managing the Immediate Response to a Major Traumatic Workplace Event
  • 4.1 If Employees Have Been Injured or this is a Health Emergency
  • 4.2 If Employees Have Died
  • 4.3 If this is a Mass Casualty Incident and Numerous Employees Have Been Killed or Injured
  • 4.4 If this is a Criminal Incident
    
• 5. Once the Immediate Danger Is Over
  • 5.1 If Employees Have Been Killed or Seriously Injured
  • 5.2 If No One Was Killed or Seriously Injured and the Workplace Is Safe
  • 5.3 Providing Emotional Support to Employees
  • 5.4 Managing the Media
    
• 6. Managing the First 24 Hours of a Traumatic Event
  • 6.1 Meeting with Families of Deceased and Seriously Injured Employees
• 7. Managing the Short-term Response (from 24 to 72 hours)
  • 7.1 The Workplace: A Comforting and Healing Cocoon
  • 7.2 Funeral Arrangements
  • 7.3 If a Memorial Service Is Held at Work
  • 7.4 If Employees Were Seriously Injured
  • 7.5 When an Injured Employee Is Ready to Return to Work
    
• 8. Managing the Emotional Needs of Employees the First Few Weeks After a Traumatic Event
  • 8.1 Stress Reactions in the First Few Weeks
  • 8.2 General Emotional Support Guidelines
  • 8.3 Practical Administrative Guidelines
  • 8.4 Helpful Emotional Support Measures
  • 8.5 Delayed Reactions
  • 8.6 When an Employee Appears Overwhelmed
  • 8.7 Resources to Help You Support Employees
    
• 9. Taking Care of Yourself
  • 9.1 Stressors That Can Affect You
  • 9.2 Stress-relieving Activities
    
• References
• Emergency Phone Numbers