The FBI defines workplace violence as actions or words that endanger or harm another employee or result in other employees having a reasonable belief that they are in danger. Such actions include: • Verbal or physical harassment • Verbal or physical threats • Assaults or other violence • Any other behavior that causes others to feel unsafe (e.g. bullying, sexual harassment)
The law enforcement community defines workplace violence as the commission of proscribed criminal acts or coercive behavior which occurs in the work setting. It includes but is not limited to homicides, forcible sex offenses, kidnapping, assault, robbery, menacing, reckless endangerment, harassment and disorderly conduct. The term coercive behavior is intended to convey the sense that workplace violence may take many forms in addition to the use of force. The aggressor may use berating language, physical or verbal threats or damage personal property.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) workplace violence is any physical assault, threatening behavior or verbal abuse occurring in the work setting. It includes, but is not limited to beatings, stabbing, suicides, shootings, rapes, near suicides, psychological traumas such as threats, obscene phone calls, an intimidating presence, and harassment of any nature such as being followed, sworn at or shouted at.
The National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc. defines workplace violence as acts of aggression or violence, that occur in, or are related to the workplace, whether intentional or reckless, including assaults, threats, disruptive, aggressive, hostile, verbal or emotionally abusive behaviors that generates fear for one’s safety or entails a perceived risk of harm to individuals, or damage to an organization’s resources or capabilities.
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) policy defines workplace violence as violence occurring on SEPTA property, violence involving a SEPTA employee or representative and violence or threats of violence affecting SEPTA interests. Prohibited conduct includes pushing or hitting a person or threatening harm against a person, members of his family, his friends, associates or property. Prohibited conduct also includes the willful destruction or threats of destruction of SEPTA property or property under SEPTA control.
Highlights and Key Information
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)’ 2012 Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) reported 13,827 workplace homicide victims between 1992 and 2010. Averaging over 700 homicides per year, the largest number of homicides in one year (n=1080) occurred in 1994, while the lowest number (n=458) occurred in 2011.
Gender and Age
Based on the 2010 BLS data workplace homicides incurred by men were down by 8 percent, from 459 in 2009 to 423 in 2010, and workplace homicides for women increased by 14 percent from 83 in 2009 to 95 in 2010. Their data also indicated that workplace homicides were the fourth leading cause of fatalities at work for men and the second leading for women.
Men and older workers have a disproportionately high share of workplace homicides since they are more likely to be employed in the occupations at highest risk of homicides.4 The historical pattern of the majority of assailants fitting in the age group between 35 – 54 continues to hold true with 47 percent of assailants fitting into this age group.
©National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence, Inc. Page 3
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