OSHA Issues Directive on Workplace Violence
From OSHA’s Cooperative Programs –
OSHA has issued a directive called Enforcement Procedures for Investigating or Inspecting Incidents of Workplace Violence (OSHA Instruction CPL 02-01-052, Sep. 8, 2011). The directive establishes uniform procedures for OSHA field staff for responding to incidents and complaints of workplace violence and conducting inspections in industries considered vulnerable to workplace violence, such as healthcare and social service settings and late-night retail establishments.
Workplace violence is a serious recognized occupational hazard, ranking among the top four causes of workplace death during the past 15 years. More than 3,000 people died from workplace homicide between 2006 and 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Additional BLS data indicate that an average of more than 15,000 nonfatal workplace violence injury cases was reported annually during that time. Studies by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and other organizations show that employers who implement effective safety measures can reduce the incidence of workplace violence. These measures include training employees on workplace violence, encouraging employees to report assaults or threats, and conducting workplace violence hazard analyses.
For more information, please see:
OSHA News Release: “OSHA issues compliance directive to address workplace violence” (Sep. 8, 2011)
OSHA’s Workplace Violence Safety and Health Topics Page (updated Sep. 2011)