Incidence, risk factors and prevention strategies for work-related assault injuries: a review of what is known, what needs to be known, and countermeasures for intervention

Abstract

This review organizes available data to address current epidemiological understanding of injuries from workplace assaults. We describe the incidence and general populations at risk for fatal and nonfatal work-related injury, and assess available information on risk factors and countermeasures considered important in reducing injury occurrence. Overall rates of occurrence of work-related homicides and nonfatal injuries are estimated, and those factors that appear to be consistent across studies are explored. Much of what is known about occupations at high risk for assaults and injuries comes from a small number of documents and special studies within subsets of workplaces. Unfortunately, the potency of specific countermeasures for prevention of violence-related injury in work settings continues to be largely unknown. Numerous fundamental questions remain to be answered: Critical is a full assessment of risk, identification of situations and circumstances amenable to intervention, and evaluations to demonstrate effectiveness.