Workplace violence is the act or threat of violence. It ranges from verbal abuse to physical assaults directed toward people at work or on duty. Violence can occur in any workplace and among any type of worker.
Workplace Safety is a cornerstone of any healthy work environment. However, there’s a darker side that often goes unnoticed: workplace violence. Every year, thousands of American workers report having been victims of workplace violence. In 2021-22, assaults resulted in 57,610 injuries. In 2022, 525 fatalities due to assault were reported, according to Injury Facts. Workplace Safety is a cornerstone of any healthy work environment. However, there’s a darker side that often goes unnoticed: workplace violence.
Joining this class will lead you an understanding of preventive measures you can take to avoid workplace violence. The speaker will offer insights on employee assistance program, zero-tolerance policy etc. that will help you to minimize such risks.
The impact of workplace violence can range from psychological issues to physical injury, or even death. The risk for fatal violence is greater for workers in sales, protective services, and transportation. The risk for nonfatal violence resulting in days away from work is greatest for healthcare and social assistance workers.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) plays a crucial role in ensuring workplace safety. Apart from all the above mention topics she will touch on the key aspects of the class which is of course OSHA’s guidelines for workplace safety.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20,050 workers in the private industry experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence in 2020. These incidents required days away from work. Of those victims who experienced trauma from workplace violence:
- 73% were female
- 62% were aged 25-54
- 76% worked in the healthcare and social assistance industry
- 22% required 31 or more days away from work to recover
- 22% involved 3-5 days away from work
Over the past few years, workplace violence has been on the rise, particularly in specific industries such as healthcare and social assistance. Healthcare workers are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing workplace violence, with incidents occurring at a rate four times higher than in the private sector (OSHA, 2015). The shift toward remote work, economic instability, and political polarization have contributed to increased tensions and conflicts within organizations (Lipscomb & London, 2015). For instance, data from the FBI shows that workplace active shooter incidents have increased by more than 150% between 2006 and 2018 (FBI, 2019).
