Employee Assaults

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approximately 2 million workers in the United States fall victim to workplace violence each year. Of those 2 million, approximately half are the victims of violent workplace assaults. This represents 15 percent of all violent crimes committed annually in the United States (BJS).

Some industries of employment are more susceptible to violence in the workplace than others. The most likely victims of workplace assaults are police officers, healthcare personnel, retail workers and people working alone and at night. The most common targets are women, employees over 60 and managers.

According to Joel Neuman and the Journal of Management, an estimated 930,000 violent non-fatal events occurred between 1992 and 1996. Of those, approximately 285,000 occurred in retail stores, 240,000 with law enforcement, 135,000 in teaching settings, 130,000 in medical sites, 75,000 in mental health institutions and 65,000 with transportation workers. Seventy four percent were the victims of simple assault, 20 percent of aggravated assault, 4 percent of robbery and 2 percent of rape and sexual assault.

Homicide in the Workplace

Unfortunately, not all violent acts in the workplace are non-fatal. Many workers in the United States are killed at work. Death resulting from violent acts, such as homicide, is the third leading cause of death in the workplace, preceded only by motor vehicle- and machinery-related deaths.

Homicide represents 12 percent of all deaths related to violent acts in the workplace. In 1994, approximately 1,080 employees were victims of workplace homicide. The numbers have gradually decreased with 677 victims reported in 2000 and 551 reported in 2004, but are still prevalent.

Violence Risk Factors

Eliminating workplace violence is not very plausible, but it is possible to alleviate or eliminate many of the risk factors involved.

Hospitals and clinics in particular face many risk factors that promote violence onsite. Some risks they confront include the prevalence of handguns and other weapons among patients, their families or friends can cause a hospital to be more vulnerable, as well as low staffing levels during times of increased activity with patients and visitors. Unrestricted movement of the public in clinics and hospitals causes greater susceptibility as well. Hospitals and pharmacies are also at risk for robbery with their availability of drugs and money.

Workplace Violence Training

Lack of training in recognizing and managing escalating hostile and aggressive behavior puts an employee at high-risk for injury or death.

According to an American Society of Industrial Security survey the top strategy indicated by respondents (25%) for preventing workplace violence is employee training. SafetyArc.com has developed a training course to inform employees about the causes of workplace violence and about prevention tools to keep employees safe. Click here to learn more about SafetyArc.com’s online Workplace Violence training course.