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Workplace Violence by Occupation

Workplace Violence by Occupation

Aug. 31, 2022
Transportation and production facilities topped the list.

It's a very grim statistic. From 1992-2019  workplace violence has killed almost 18,000 people.

This number comes from a recent study conducted by NIOSH, the Bureau of Justice Statistics, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics provides a broad view of workplace violence in the United States during the 27 years from 1992 to 2019. they define workplace violence as incidents that occurred outside the workplace but stemmed from work-related issues.

Looking specifically at 2019, the most recent year included in the study, the total of 454 homicides represents a 58% decrease from the high of 1,080 in 1994 but also an 11% increase since 2014. Homicides as a percentage of total fatal occupational injuries fell from 17% in 1993 to 8.5% in 2019.

More than 40% of workplace homicides in this period occurred in public buildings such as convenience stores and office buildings. Most other workplace homicides took place on streets, in private residences, and on industrial premises.

For non-fatal incidents of workplace violence, during 2015–2019 the average annual rate was 8 per 1,000 workers. Law enforcement and security professionals had the highest average annual victimization rate at 77.5 per 1,000 workers, followed by mental health professionals (45.2 per 1,000) and medical professionals (15.1 per 1,000). For workers in corrections professions, a subcategory of law enforcement and security, the victimization rate was 149.1 per 1,000.

During 2015–2019, the occupations with the highest incidence of workplace homicides were sales, protective service (police and firefighters), and transportation (see chart). 

To help understand the issue the report provides data structured around 13 key “indicators” such as the characteristics of victims of workplace violence, characteristics of offenders, the use of weapons, the treatment of nonfatal injuries in emergency departments, and socio-economic problems that result from workplace violence. 

Available on the website of the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the study "Indicators of Workplace Violence, 2019" draws on five nationally representative data sources, including the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, the National Crime Victimization Survey, the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, and the National Vital Statistics System. 

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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