Homicide is now the fourth leading work-related cause of death in the United States. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health has found that homicide accounts for 12% of job-related deaths. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that homicide was the leading cause of death for women at work, accounting for 42% of on-the-job fatalities. .
According to studies by the National Safe Workplace Institute in Chicago, the most dramatically increasing type of workplace violence is employer-directed. Until recently, there was an average of one employer-directed homicide per month in the United States, however that has escalated to an average of five or six monthly. Workplace violence is identified by the following types:
- Employer directed - violence against workplace authority: supervisor, manager, director.
- Domestic directed - partner or would be partner engages in violence against the object of his or her affections.
- Property directed - acts against any property that the company/employer owns.
- Commercial directed - an employee participates in events against the company that can include theft of money or property and may also involve violence.
Workplace Violence Preventive Measures
- Be aware of the warning signs of violence
- Mentally prepare for "what if" situations
- Understand company procedures about violent situations
- Be aware of weapons brought into the workplace
- Take all threats seriously
- Alert management immediately if any of the above occur
Warning Signs of Workplace Violence
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What You Can Do At Work
- Treat each other with respect
- Get to know the people around you and agree to look out for each other
- Look intently for how everyone is doing
- Improve communication throughout your company
- Improve working conditions by offering suggestions for safety
- Notify management of any suspicious activities
- Watch for the warning signs of violence
- Encourage each other to be alert for danger signals in coworkers
- Promote workplace integrity between all employees
- Listen for verbal intimidation on the job
- Watch for psychological abuse on the job between employees
- Be aware of behavioral pattern changes in fellow workers
- Become more responsive to each other
Awareness is the first step in preventing
workplace violence.
BE PROACTIVE.
workplace violence.
BE PROACTIVE.




