Government Issues and Politics
Insurance and Employee Benefits
Business and Economic Information
Human Resources and Safety
Education Policy and Practice
Training and Consulting Services
Human Resources and Safety
HR Issues and Laws Safety and Health Tools and Forms Comp and Benefits Publications and Posters Training and Programs

Policies unchanged after workplace violence

Nearly five percent of U.S. private industry business establishments had an incident of workplace violence during the 12 months prior to the completion of a new survey on workplace violence prevention. Although about a third of these establishments reported that the incident had a negative impact on the workforce, only 10% changed their workplace violence prevention procedures after the incident; almost 9% of the establishments had no program or policy addressing workplace violence.

     The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducted the survey for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The survey looks at the prevalence of security features, the risks facing employees, employer policies and training, and related topics associated with maintaining a safe work environment.

     Other findings:

  • While 5% of all establishments, including state and local governments, had a violent incident, half of the largest establishments in private industry (employing 1,000 or more workers) reported an incident
  • In these large establishments, the most prevalent type of incident involved a co-worker as perpetrator (34%), followed by a customer or client (28%), domestic violence (24%), and criminal (17%)
  • State government reported a higher percentage (32%) of all types of workplace violence than did local government (15%) or private industry
  • Seventy-two percent of establishments, employing 91% of workers, had at least one type of security system—security staff, physical security (such as locked entries), or electronic security (such as metal detectors)
  • Forty-three percent of private industry establishments track the cost of workplace injuries and illnesses, while less than half of those (20%) track costs related to incidents of workplace violence.