Workplace and Targeted Violence
Violence in the workplace can have devastating affects on a business, let alone the human toll from injury or loss of life. However, relatively few employers have established effective programs to combat the problem of workplace violence. As a result, the latest intelligence bulletin from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reported that each week, an average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted at work. Non-fatal assaults' at work result in millions of lost days and cost businesses' millions of lost work days. And the most disturbing finding, homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace.
A study by Children's Safety Network Economics and Insurance Center, funded by the National Institute of Crime, showed from 1987-1991 average annual losses and loss adjustment expenses resulting from violent crime were $6.8 Billion for Health Insurers, $900 Million for Life Insurers, and $450 Million for Worker's Compensation Insurers. Note, these figures did not include insurer's settlement related to litigation. Further, during the 5 years from the last study, workplace violence incidents have increased dramatically. In short, workplace violence is a cost that impacts the business and the consumer.
A Senior Scientist at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health suggests workers be aware of the dangers they face, and employers prepare their employees to handle possible threatening situations. Accordingly, OSHA and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health advises organizations to clearly state policies, develop procedures for providing a safe and healthy work environment, and train employees for dealing with potentially violent situations.
Commonly asked questions are: "Why take the time or cost to develop a program?", "It can never happen here, can it?", and "What is the cost to the employer, insurer, the consumer or the victims or the victims family?"
In May 1995, the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries published a report entitled "Violence in Washington Workplaces, 1992." Thirteen workers were killed because of violence occurring in the workplace in 1992. However, there were 2,395 workers compensation claims for violence-related non-fatal injuries during that same period.
A 1994 U.S. Department of Justice study estimated that nearly 1 million crimes occur in the workplace, with over half not reported. The direct and indirect costs of workplace violence is staggering, to the insurer and business, which demands unprecedented attention to manage the costs.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recorded a total of 7,600 occupational homicides from 1980 to 1989, approximately 750 per year. In 1992, there were over 1,004 workplace homicides in the U.S., along with an estimated 111,000 violent incidents costing U.S. organizations over $6 billion.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in 1992, 22,396 non-fatal incidents involving hitting, kicking, beating, rape, threats, squeezing, pinching, scratching, twisting, and biting. An estimated 2 million U.S. employees were physically attacked at work during 1993, and during this same year, an estimated 6.3 million were threatened at work, and 16.1 million were harassed at work.
Government Executive, December 1996, reported that over 40% of women in workplace were murdered by an intimate friend or partner; and that workplace violence occurred with: 1% - people working without pay, 8% - self-employed individuals, 30% - at federal, state, and local government agencies, and 61% - with private companies. The National Safe Workplace Institute reported in 1992 that one workplace violence incident can easily cost the employer $250,000, with the total 1992 cost to employers of $4.2 billion. The Workplace Violence Research Institute completed a project in 1995 that identified the true cost of workplace violence of over $36 billion annually.
Workplace violence is a growing threat and a very real problem that has emerged as an entity onto its own. The growing number of workplace violence has been portrayed in the media with the many Post Office homicide/suicides, along with many other corporate victims. The old phrase of the "disgruntled employee" has been replaced with "going postal!" Workplace violence not only involve homicide/suicides, but also includes consistent patterns of verbal and sexual harassments, intimidations and threats of violence, majorly depressed and suicidal employees, hostile response styles, and a host of other detrimental behaviors. Workplace violence threatens the financial resources of the organizations, and most importantly its human resources.
For more WPV information and updated statistics, visit the ARTICLES section.
