Intimate Partner Homicides Among Women at Work

Researchers have found that intimate partner violence resulted in 142 homicides: or 22% of the total 648 homicides: among women at work in the U.S. from 2003 to 2008.

The paper from the National institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the Injury Control Research Center at West Virginia University reports that the leading cause of homicides among women was criminal intent. Thirty-nine percent resulted from robberies of retail stores, followed closely by homicides carried out by personal relations (33%). Nearly 80% of these personal relations were intimate partners.

Risk factors associated with workplace-related intimate partner homicides include occupation, time of day, and location. Women in protective service occupations had the highest overall homicide rate; however, women in healthcare, production, and office/administration had the highest proportion of homicides related to intimate partner violence. Over half of the homicides committed by intimate partners occurred in parking lots and public buildings.

Other study findings:

• More U.S. women died on the job as the result of domestic violence than at the hands of a client: such as a student, patient or prisoner: or a current or former coworker.
• Workplace homicide rates among women were significantly higher in private workplaces than in federal, state, or local workplaces.
• Firearms, knives, and other sharp objects were the top items used in workplace homicides against women.
• The most common locations where workplace homicides among women occurred were retail businesses such as restaurants, cafes, convenience stores, and hotels and motels, followed by commercial stores, public buildings, and parking lots.

More information