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Definition of Workplace Violence

When asked what do you think of when you hear the term “Workplace Violence” the majority of people respond with “a disgruntled employee coming into the workplace and shooting the place up.” This type of violence does happen, however we need to also focus on workplace violence that is less than tissue damage and homicide. According to Occupational Safety & Health Administration, 1.5 million are assaulted in the workplace each year.

Workplace violence can be any act of physical violence (including throwing objects, shaking fists, and destroying property) threats of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening, disruptive behavior that occurs at the work site. Workplace violence can affect or involve employees, visitors, contractors, and other non-employees.

Violence in the workplace is a serious safety and health issue. Its most extreme form, homicide, is the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI), there were 639 workplace homicides in 2001 in the United States, out of a total of 8,786 fatal work injuries. A total of 2,886 work-related fatalities resulted from the events of September 11th. Excluding these fatalities, the overall workplace fatality count was 5,900 for 2001.

TYPES OF WORKPLACE VIOLENCE EVENTS

When one examines the circumstances associated with workplace assaults they can be divided into three major types. However, it is important to keep in mind that a particular occupation or workplace may be subject to more than one type. In all three types of workplace violence events, a human being, or "hazardous agent," commits the assault.

In Type I, the perpetrator has no legitimate business relationship to the workplace and usually enters the affected workplace to commit a robbery or other criminal act.

In Type II, the perpetrator is either the recipient, or the object, of a service provided by the affected workplace or the victim, e.g., the assailant is a current or former client, patient, customer, passenger, criminal suspect, inmate or prisoner.

In Type III, the perpetrator has some employment-related involvement with the affected workplace. Usually this involves an assault by a current or former employee, supervisor or manager; by a current/former spouse or lover; a relative or friend; or some other person who has a dispute with an employee of the affected workplace.