Workplace Violence is Increasing
Workplace violence, which can range from threats, verbal abuse, up to physical assault and homicide, has increased at an annualized rate of 5.3% per year from 2011 through 2021-22, according to a paper released this month from the National Council on Compensation Insurance.
The paper focuses on nonfatal assaults from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Key Findings
The rate of workplace assaults per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers increased by 62%.
The share of assaults among all of the BLS’ days away from work (DAFW) cases increased from 1.3% in 2011 to a peak of 2.3% in 2019.
Assault cases are most heavily concentrated in the health care and social assistance NAICS sector. The number of annual assaults in this sector is 10 times the number of assaults in the next largest NAICS sector, retail trade.
Women tend to experience an elevated risk of workplace assault.
Workers aged 20 to 34 experience a disproportionate number of assaults.
Hitting, kicking, and beating by another person accounts for nearly 93% of all workplace assaults.
Types of injuries
The survey found that the majority of workplace assaults resulting in days away from work involve physical altercations such as hitting, kicking, or beating, accounting for nearly 93% of all cases.
Although the remaining assault categories each make up only a very small share of total incidents, they often involve more severe mechanisms, such as shootings, stabbings, or sexual assault.
These lower-frequency events can carry substantial per-injury medical, legal, and productivity costs, meaning that even a small number of severe assaults can have an outsized impact on employers and workers.
The report offered the following analysis:
Overall, the data shows that nonfatal workplace assaults are shaped far more by where people work and whom they interact with than by broad labor market trends.
The concentration of cases in health care and social assistance— and, to a lesser extent, educational services—reflects the elevated risks inherent in roles requiring frequent, direct engagement with patients, students, or other individuals under a worker’s supervision or care.
At the same time, most incidents involve physical altercations rather than gun- or crime-related events, even though the latter, while rare, contribute disproportionately to injury severity and cost.
Taken together, these findings underscore that workplace assaults are highly concentrated in frontline, person-facing settings and reflect a mix of more common, lower-severity incidents and much rarer events that carry outsized costs.
Ways to Mitigate Risks
The survey notes that federal agencies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have developed evidence-based strategies to help employers mitigate this risk.
The following summarizes some of the prevention approaches recommended by these agencies.
• Develop a comprehensive prevention program
Create a formal, written policy that defines workplace violence, outlines reporting procedures, and establishes a zero-tolerance stance. Programs should include management commitment and employee involvement.
• Conduct worksite risk assessments
Identify and evaluate risk factors such as working with the public, handling money, working alone, or operating in high-crime areas. Use incident logs, employee feedback, and walkthroughs to assess vulnerabilities.
• Implement environmental and engineering controls
Use physical modifications like improved lighting, surveillance systems, secured access points, and protective barriers to reduce exposure to violent incidents.
• Apply administrative controls
Adjust staffing levels, limit cash on hand, modify shift schedules, and establish clear procedures for incident response and follow-up.
• Provide training and education
Train employees to recognize warning signs, use de-escalation techniques, and respond appropriately to violent incidents. Training should be tailored to job roles and risk levels.
• Monitor, evaluate, and improve
Track incidents, review program effectiveness regularly, and update policies based on feedback and evolving risks.