Disparities in work-related homicide rates in selected retail industries in the United States, 2003–2008

Abstract

Problem-Segments within the retail industry have a substantially higher rate of work-related fatality due to workplace violence compared to the retail industry overall. Certain demographic subgroups may be at higher risk.Method-National traumatic injury surveillance data were analyzed to characterize the distribution of fatality rates due to workplace violence among selected retail workers in the United States from 2003 through 2008.Results-Overall, the highest fatality rates due to work-related homicide occurred among men, workers aged ≥ 65 years, black, Asian, foreign-born and Southern workers. Among foreign-born workers, those aged 16-24 years, non-Hispanic whites and Asians experienced substantially higher fatality rates compared to their native-born counterparts.Conclusions-The burden of work-related homicide in the retail industry falls more heavily on several demographic groups, including racial minorities and the foreign-born. Further research should examine the causes of these trends. Interventions designed to prevent workplace violence should target these groups.

Examining occupational health and safety disparities using national data: A cause for continuing concern

“…Menéndez et al [2013] analyzed the 2003–2008 CFOI data for homicides in selected retail industries including: grocery stores; beer, wine, and liquor stores; gasoline stations; and food services and drinking places. These are just a few of the employer types found within the trade industry, the industry group we found to have the highest homicide rate.…”

“…The authors speculate that Black and Asian workers in retail settings have higher homicide rates because they are more likely to work in stores in areas where crime rates are higher and are more likely to be employed in businesses that lack safety measures. In addition, Black and Asian workers may lack important safety training that could protect them during a robbery [Menéndez et al, 2013]. …”

“…Some progress has been made to understand the circumstances of workplace violence (criminal intent violence; client, customer, or patient violence; worker-on-worker violence; and personal relationship violence) and risk factors (contact with the public, exchange of money, working alone or in small numbers, working late at night or during early morning hours, and working in high-crime areas) [NIOSH, 2006; Menéndez et al, 2013]. It is important that multidisciplinary workplace violence prevention programs that incorporate training and circumstance-specific prevention strategies be available and implemented widely [NIOSH, 2006].…”

Workplace violence among emergency medical services workers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

“…[3,4] Furthermore, occupational homicide is also reported as an outcome of workplace violence, including that occurring in health industries. [5,6] The emergency department is the point of first contact with the hospital ward's health care workers, and workers in the emergency department were found to have a high risk of work place violence compared to non-emergency worker. [7] The high vulnerability of the emergency hospital staff to violence was found to be related to several factors: low staffing levels, lack of staff training in recognizing and defusing potentially dangerous patients, lack of violence prevention programs, inadequate security, working in public places, and providing services, education and/or working with unstable or people with mental health problems.…”

Estimating Occupational Illness, Injury, and Mortality in Food Production in the United States

“…This finding was consistent with earlier work. 40 The lower rate of fatal occupational injuries by all other documented causes is likely because food service occurs in a controlled environment, relative to some other service industries. Though the food service environment is a common source of injury, these injuries are rarely severe enough to result in death.…”