consider physical and procedural methods for

reducing them. Generally, physical or “engineering” controls should be considered first since

they create physical barriers between drivers

and the hazards. Procedural methods require

changes in behavior, such as not accepting cash,

to reduce risks.

Physical Controls

Potential physical controls include:

• Barriers – such as bullet-resistant glass – between drivers and passengers prevent robberies, injuries and death.

• Security cameras record activities within the

vehicle, discouraging violent behavior, and

aiding in identifying passengers, if an assault

does occur.

• Silent alarms (such as an external light) and/or

radio communication allow drivers to safely

request help.

• Vehicle tracking devices, such as global positioning satellite (GPS) systems, allow drivers

in distress to be located.

• Improved lighting inside the taxi allows the

driver to be aware of passenger behavior.

Procedural Controls

Procedural controls include:

• Establishing police protocols – including authorizing police stops.

• Promoting the use of credit card payments to

limit the amount of cash in the taxi and

thereby discourage robberies.

• Providing safety training to teach drivers, dispatchers and company owners about protective measures.

Employer Responsibilities

OSHA citations can only be issued for violations

of standards, regulations, and the General Duty

Clause. Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, the

“General Duty Clause,” provides that “Each emFor-hire and taxi driver homicides

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) data indicates that annual homicide rates for taxi drivers

(and chauffeurs) from 1998 to 2007 ranged from

9 per 100,000 workers, to 19. During that period

the rate for all workers was at or below 0.5 per

100,000 workers. In other words, taxi drivers’

homicide rates were between 21 and 33 times

higher than the national average for all workers.

Risks that may lead to violence

Taxi drivers face many of the same risk factors

as other workers in potentially violent occupations. These include working:

• With cash (making them targets for robbery);

• Alone and in isolated areas;

• At night and in poorly lit settings;

• In high-crime areas;

• With people under the influence of alcohol.

Reducing the Risks

Reducing risks requires employers and/or taxi

drivers to assess their potential hazards and

FactSheet

Preventing Violence against Taxi and

For-Hire Drivers

Taxi drivers are over 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other

workers. By recognizing the hazards that lead to violent incidents and using proven

prevention and control measures, employers and drivers can create safer working

conditions.

• • • • • • • • • •

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Number ofTaxi Driver Homicides

49 51 42 34 30 45 38 25 32 35

1998

1999

2000

200120022003

2004

2005

2006

2007
U.S. Department of Labor

For more complete information:

DEP 4/2010

ployer shall furnish to each of his employees

employment and a place of employment which

are free from recognized hazards that are causing or likely to cause death or serious physical

harm to his employees” [29 U.S.C. 654(a)(1)].

Employers are required by law to communicate

to workers their rights under the OSH Act.

Posters containing these and other rights are

available free of charge from OSHA’s area offices

or can be downloaded from OSHA’s website—

www.osha.gov.

Taxi companies that only use the services of

drivers who are independent contractors are not

subject to OSH Act coverage. It should be noted

however, that the suggested safety measures

listed here are likely to help reduce the risks for

independent contractors to the same extent as

employees.

This fact sheet is not a standard or regulation, and it creates no new legal obligations. It contains recommendations as well as descriptions of mandatory safety and health standards. The recommendations are

advisory in nature, informational in content, and are intended to assist employers in providing a safe and

healthful workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health Act requires employers to comply with safety

and health standards and regulations promulgated by OSHA or by a state with an OSHA-approved state

plan. In addition, the Act’s General Duty Clause, Section 5(a)(1), requires employers to provide their employees with a workplace free from recognized hazards likely to cause death or serious physical harm.

This information will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. The voice phone is

(202) 693-1999; teletypewriter (TTY) number: (877) 889-5627.

Worker Rights

Section 11(c)(1) of the OSH Act provides: “No

person shall discharge or in any manner discriminate against any employee because such employee has filed any complaint or instituted or

caused to be instituted any proceeding under or

related to this Act or has testified or is about to

testify in any such proceedings or because of the

exercise by such employee on behalf of himself

or others of any right afforded by this Act” [29

U.S.C. 660(c)].

Conclusion

Employers are responsible for taking measures

to protect the health and safety of their workers.

In addition, it is the duty of taxi drivers to follow

proper safety procedures. OSHA has recommended these safety controls to help reduce

work-related violence. Employers, dispatchers

and drivers can use a combination of the suggested controls, which apply to their individual

work situations.