| Workplace violence has become one of the | | | | be seen as a national or international thing, but |
| biggest concerns for managers, corporate | | | | something that is dependent on the region where |
| executives and Human Resource Departments in | | | | the assaults occur. The number one occupational |
| the past several years. In fact, the shear number | | | | group suffering the greatest number of assaults is |
| of incidents of workplace violence is staggering. | | | | not police and security officers as is often |
| A report issued by the Occupational Safety and | | | | believed. No, the occupation shown to be most at |
| Health Administration (OSHA) after an extensive | | | | risk are retail sales people, including but not limited |
| study, showed that "homicide is the second | | | | to, convenience store personnel. This group is |
| leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the | | | | followed closely by those in the service industries |
| United States. The report stated that almost | | | | like administrative personnel, teachers, and medical |
| 1,000 workers are murdered, and 1.5 million - | | | | professionals. In fact, a report on incidents in one |
| about 1-in-4 - employees are assaulted in the | | | | of the "calmest" countries - Sweden - shows |
| workplace each year. According to the BLS | | | | medical professionals to be the highest occupation |
| Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), in | | | | victimized by assault and other workplace |
| 1998 alone, there were 709 workplace homicides | | | | violence. And, contrary to popular belief as |
| which accounted for 12% of the over six | | | | reported by the media, the greatest threat |
| thousand fatal work injuries in the United States | | | | comes, not from within a company's ranks but |
| that year." | | | | from outside. |
| A Global Concern | | | | The most difficult part of getting to the truth of |
| This issue is not limited to the United States, as | | | | the matter, as with all statistical data, is the fact |
| some might assume. It seems that every | | | | that the numbers are probably far lower than |
| country is showing a marked increase in the | | | | what is actually occurring. Just as Human |
| number, frequency, and severity of workplace | | | | Resource managers and the companies that they |
| violence incidents every year. | | | | represent are concerned about legal action in |
| Duncan Chappell and Vittorio Di Martino, in their | | | | regards to giving reference information about |
| work entitled: "Violence in the Workplace," say | | | | past employees, most are also fearful of their |
| that a 1996 European Union Survey showed that | | | | public image should word spread about assaults |
| during the prior year, four percent of workers | | | | against their employees. |
| (about 6 million) were subjected to physical | | | | Prevention and Countermeasures The growing |
| violence while at work or on duty. They also say | | | | trend for dealing with the problem of workplace |
| that, "workplace violence - be it physical or | | | | violence is in teaching employees, supervisors, and |
| psychological - has gone global, crossing borders, | | | | executive management how to spot trouble signs |
| work settings, and occupational groups. | | | | before they occur. This is an excellent place to |
| Who is at Risk? | | | | start to build a sound program. As with anything |
| Statistics show that, although no single occupation | | | | involving danger, the more information and |
| is immune from violence, violence in the | | | | awareness that can be developed, the more |
| workplace can definitely be seen to be clustered | | | | effective we can be in preventing the danger |
| in certain occupations. Occupations having many, if | | | | from ever occurring. |
| not all, of the following characteristics also show | | | | However, no program can be considered |
| the highest rate of incidents: | | | | complete without including employee training for |
| * Contact with the public * Exchange of money * | | | | effectively handling, escaping, and surviving actual |
| Delivery of passengers, goods, or services * | | | | physical assaults. The fact is, that no amount of |
| Having a mobile workplace such as a taxicab or | | | | understanding and preventative measures will stop |
| police cruiser * Working with unstable or volatile | | | | certain assailants from attacking. At that point, all |
| persons in health care, social service, or criminal | | | | that remains is for effective action that will |
| justice settings * Working alone or in small | | | | ensure the physical safety and survival of the |
| numbers * Working late at night or during early | | | | intended victims. |
| morning hours * Working in high-crime areas * | | | | Remember: Workplace violence is real. It can |
| Guarding valuable property or possessions * | | | | happen to any employee, in any company, at any |
| Working in community-based settings | | | | time. And, it can happen to you or someone you |
| Depending on the area, taxi drivers had, by far, | | | | care about. |
| the highest incident rates. But, again, this is not to | | | | |