Work-Related Physical Assault

Abstract

Violence in the workplace is a serious public health problem. Yet, to date, little has been documented relevant to non-fatal events associated with physical assault. The aim of the present study was to identify the magnitude of work-related physical assault in Minnesota and to identify potential risk factors; both fatal and non-fatal cases were included. Minnesota workers' compensation records, relevant to assault, were used to identify 712 cases involving more than three days of lost work time for 1992; six homicide cases were included. Assault rates were calculated by industry and occupation. Women had an assault rate twice that of men (51 versus 26 per 100,000 workers). Workers in industries of social services (340), health services (202), and transportation (914) had the highest rates of assault per 100,000 full-time employees. The fact that in addition to overall workers' compensation costs of $1.6 million, the average lost time for closed compensated cases was 54 days (median, 14 days) and time to reach maximum medical improvement for 44% of the cases reporting was 156 days (median, 83 days), indicates a major problem. The findings suggest that specific groups of workers are at risk for physical assault on the job. Further research is essential to identify specific risk factors that will enable the development of appropriate prevention strategies.

Workplace Homicides Among U.S. Women: The Role of Intimate Partner Violence

“…There are two possible explanations for these findings. First, other types of homicide, such as type I, are less prominent in these occupations because these jobs are not associated with known workplace homicide risk factors such as the exchange of money, contact with customers, and delivery of services (28,29). Second, women employed in these occupations may work in locations where access into the business or workplace is poorly secured, such as hospitals, public office buildings, beauty salons, and factories.…”

Death by Homicide in Italy, 1980–94: Age and Gender Differences among Victims

“…High rates were also identified for workers providing public and private security, and in a number of retail trade and service industries. Indeed, specific groups of workers are at risk of physical assault on the job and are therefore at notably higher risk of dying by homicide, as a reflection of greater opportunity for the victim and the perpetrator to arrive at conflict (Ferreira de Castro et al, 1991;Kraus et al, 1995;LaMar et al, 1998). In fact, the more interaction one has with other people, the more are the opportunities for conflict to arise (Cohn and Rotton, 1997).…”

Violence in the workplace: awareness and prevention

“…Although these figures appear quite high, a variety of studies indicate that the incidence of occupational violence is under-reported (Barrett, 1997;Gates, 1995;Le Mar, Gerberich, Lohman & Zaidman, 1998;Macdonald, Sirotich, 2001;Rowett, 1986;Crane 1986). This may be particularly the case in health care settings for two major reasons, the first reason being that violence is seen by many health professionals as part of everyday professional life.…”