Occupational Injuries Due to Violence

• NCJ Number: 136122
• Journal: Journal of Occupational Medicine Volume: 30 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1988) Pages: 483-487
• Author(s): T Hales; P J Seligman; S C Newman; C L Timbrook
• Date Published: 1988
• Length: 5 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Data from Ohio's workers compensation claims filed between 1983 and 1985, death certificates, Uniform Crime Reports, and the National Crime Survey were used to examine the incidence of occupational injuries due to violence. An estimated 800 to 1,400 people are murdered at work each year in the U.S., and an unknown number are injured due to workplace violence.

Abstract

According to the data, police officers, gasoline service station attendants, real estate industry workers, and hotel/motel employees are at highest risk for occupational violent crime injuries and death. The highest number of workplace rapes were reported among grocery and convenience store workers and real estate industry workers. Four previously unidentified industries -- hotel/motel, real estate, protective service, and suburban transit -- at increased risk of employee victimization were discussed. This analysis provides an opportunity to focus preventive strategies to promote employee safety and security in the workplace. 3 tables, 1 figure, and 14 references