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