He came into the office we were in and shot Barbara in the head. Robinson cautioned that anyone can become the victim of workplace violence, but that the risks are statistically higher for people in certain industries and occupations. Guarding valuables or property From robbery to workplace homicide Labor Secretary Alexis Herman, right, with family members of workers murdered on the job. Victims were likely to own or work in gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, bars or other retail establishments where cash is readily available. Homicide was the leading occupational risk for those working in sales or as supervisors and proprietors, police and detectives, taxicab drivers and cashiers.
Nonfatal assaults are also of concern to employers and workers alike.
In 1998 the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued recommendations for preventing workplace violence in late-night retail establishments and updated its previous guidelines for health care and social service workers. Part of their research, said Hutter, was interviewing convicted convenience store robbers to find out why they pick certain stores to rob and how they do it. Another way to assess the potential for workers to be victimized by violence, said Robinson, is to ask the employees themselves. Train employees on crisis management Managers need to review their administrative controls and workplace policies to determine whether the risk of workplace violence is adequately addressed, Robinson said. Using security guards or receptionists to screen visitors entering the workplace.