Occupational Health and Safety Risks Faced by Police Officers

• NCJ Number: 188191
• Author(s): Claire Mayhew
• Date Published: February 2001
• Length: 6 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Instructional Material
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: Australian Institute of Criminology Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, No. 196. Downloaded April 24, 2001

Annotation

Based on a comprehensive international literature review of police occupational health and safety risk factors, this Australian paper discusses the risk of death and homicide, the risk of assault, the risk of communicable diseases, the risk of stress and fatigue, and the risk of other injuries and illnesses.

Abstract

In discussing the risk of death and homicide, the author notes that the relatively constant rate of police homicides in a time of increased availability of firearms and illicit drugs suggests that body armor, medical technology, and training strategies have kept pace with the threats. A discussion of the risk of assault notes that the number of assaults on police officers far exceeds fatalities and is probably increasing over time. In Australia, assaults on police officers are relatively common, with approximately 10 percent of officers becoming assault victims each year. Officers are most at risk of being assaulted when responding to domestic disputes. The author outlines the features common to officer assault-related injuries. While investigating crimes, conducting searches, taking samples, or arresting suspects, another risk to officer health and safety is exposure to infectious organisms. With the HIV/AIDS virus, however, the perception of risk far exceeds the probability of being infected. Offenders infected with hepatitis B and C pose a significant risk to exposed police and custodial officers. Hepatitis B is highly infectious, with perhaps one in three exposures resulting in transmission. The work tasks that place officers most at risk of disease infections are listed. Another health risk to police officers is stress and fatigue from constant exposure to danger, traumatic events, prisoner threats, conflicting task demands, short-staffed stations, court appearances, departmental inquiries, and work in isolated rural areas. Some warning signs of stress and fatigue are identified by the author. Other risks mentioned by the author are raids on clandestine drug laboratories, laser pointers, and drug and alcohol abuse by police officers. 69 references