NIOSH Alert: Request for Assistance in Preventing
Homicide in the Workplace
CDC's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
(NIOSH) periodically issues alerts on workplace hazards that have
caused death, serious injury, or illness to workers. One such
alert, Request for Assistance in Preventing Homicide in the
Workplace (1), was recently published and is available to the
public. *
From 1980 through 1989, occupational homicides accounted for
approximately 7600 deaths -- 12% of all deaths from injury in the
workplace (2). During this period, homicide was the third leading
cause of death from injury in the workplace and was the leading
cause of occupational death from injury for women. Guns were used
in 75% of all occupational homicides. No current Occupational
Safety and Health Administration regulations apply specifically to
occupational homicide.
Many employers and workers may be unaware of the risk for
occupational homicide. High-risk occupations are taxicab
drivers/chauffeurs, law enforcement officers, hotel clerks, gas
station workers, security guards, stock handlers/baggers, store
owners/managers, and bartenders. This alert contains
recommendations for preventing occupational homicides.
References
NIOSH. NIOSH alert: request for assistance in preventing
homicide in the workplace. Cincinnati: US Department of Health and
Human Services, Public Health Service, CDC, NIOSH, 1993; DHHS
publication no. (NIOSH)93-109.
NIOSH. Fatal injuries to workers in the United States, 1980-
1989: a decade of surveillance -- national profile. Cincinnati: US
Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service,
CDC, NIOSH, 1993; DHHS publication no. (NIOSH)93-108.
Single copies of this document are available without charge from
the Publications Office, NIOSH, CDC, Mailstop C-13, 4676 Columbia
Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998; telephone (800) 356-4674; fax
(513) 533-8573.
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