August 23, 2004—A new training and educational DVD on preventing workplace violence has been produced by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). “Violence on the Job” is a 27-minute video that provides employers, employees, safety professionals, and others with recommendations and resources for preventing work-related homicides and assaults.
It discusses practical measures for identifying risk factors for violence at work, and offers recommendations and strategic action to keep employees safe. The video is based on NIOSH research and includes information from other authoritative sources.
“Violence on the Job,” DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2004-100d, can be downloaded or viewed as streaming video on the NIOSH Web page, and copies can be ordered free of charge from the NIOSH information number, 800/35-NIOSH. For additional information about NIOSH recommendations for preventing workplace violence, visit NIOSH/Occupational Violence.
Homicide in the workplace is the third leading cause of job-related fatalities, and the second leading cause of job-related fatalities for women. Each week in the US, 17 employees on average are murdered at work, and 33,000 on average are assaulted. Factors that place workers at risk for violence in the workplace include interacting with the public, exchanging money, delivering services or goods, working late at night or during early morning hours, working alone, guarding valuables or property, and dealing with violent people or volatile situations.
