With violent crime the leading cause of death and disability for Americans between the ages of 15 and 34, it's no surprise that violence is increasingly stalking the workplace. In fact, from 1987 through 1992, about a million people were assaulted each year at work, and between July 1992 and July 1993, more than 2 million people were attacked at work.
In 1995, homicides were the second leading cause of all employee deaths, and the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. On average, 15 employees are victims of workplace-related homicides every week. In addition to homicides, workplace violence manifests itself as threats, bullying, pushing and shoving, fist fights, shootings, stabbings and rapes.
Who's At Risk
Statistics show that certain employees have a greater chance of experiencing violent acts, including those working in health care, social services, public administration and night retail industries. The greatest risk factor: working in a job that involves exchanging money with the public. Robbery is usually the motive in these cases.
However, all employees can be at risk because there are many other causes of workplace violence, including personality clashes, marital problems, work-related stress and substance abuse, among others. Depsite the varied causes, there are some indicators of when an employee may turn violent (see sidebar).
Actually, employers can do more than anticipate potential workplace violence if they know what their responsibilities are and take the necessary steps to protect employees.
An Employer's Duties
Both the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) and state laws hold employers responsible for providing a safe workplace. In addition, employers can be held liable for negligence if they don't use reasonable care to prevent a "foreseeable risk" of injury to others.
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