Female Workplace Homicides

Abstract

H omicide at work is an emerging concern for occupational health nurses. Approximately 42% of fatal occupational injuries for women are due to murder, compared to 11% for men (CDC, 1990). Between 1980 and 1985, murder on the job was the leading cause of fatal injuries for women, compared to the third leading cause for men. During this period, workplace homicide of women accounted for 25,787 years of potential life lost (CDC, 1990). Any worker, especially if involved with exchange of money, is a potential victim of a violent act. The leading causes of the estimated annual 7,000 fatal injuries of men and women at work are motor vehicle injuries, machine related injuries, and homicide (CDC, 1990). However, because the homicide rate for men generally is higher and their participation in the work force is greater