Violence in the Workplace

According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), violence in the workplace is a significant public health problem. Each year, over one million people are assaulted while on the job, and over 800 lose their lives. Easy access to weapons, increasing job stress, changing work environments, and worries about personal security all contribute to these incidents of workplace violence. It seems like every few weeks, the news reports a story about another employee who has attacked and killed his coworkers. Certainly these situations are serious, but they are much less common than fistfights, shouting matches, and simple assaults. The fallout from workplace violence can include increased absenteeism, higher personnel turnover, property damage, and production losses. Therefore, it is vital that every worker know how to prevent and respond to violence in the workplace.