What is OSHA doing about workplace violence and why?
OSHA has developed final “Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers” and draft guidelines for night retail establishments. The intent of the guidelines is to educate employers on finding ways to provide a more secure work environment. Consequently, OSHA hopes that employers will voluntarily implement workplace violence protection programs. Workplace violence has emerged as an important safety issue in today’s workplaces. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) fatality data, assaults and violent acts caused 20 percent of the fatal occupational injuries in the United States in 1994. Homicide, the most extreme form of workplace violence, is the second leading cause of death. For example, of the total 6,588 deaths in 1994, homicides accounted for 1,071 of deaths, or 16 percent.
