Workers may not report an assault out of fear they will be blamed for it and disciplined by management. Workers also may blame themselves for being assaulted. Workplace violence was the leading cause of death for retail and service workers such as guards, police officers, taxi drivers and cashiers. Health care workers, especially those in mental health institutions, suffer the highest number of non-fatal workplace violence incidences. In 1994, health care patients were the source of half of all non-fatal assaults against workers that were reported to the U.S. Department of Labor.
More guns are on the street and more people are willing to address their problems through violence.
Much of this violence spills over into workplaces, such as hospital emergency rooms and social service offices, as well as neighborhoods where housing inspectors, road workers, home health workers and child welfare workers must work. The wave of de-institutionalization that closed many mental health facilities has led to overcrowding in the remaining facilities and has created an enormous homeless population. Some of these patients may have a history of violence. People who need the structure and supervision of an institution are now crowding our homeless shelters, unemployment offices, emergency rooms and outpatient health clinics. Staffing - Budget problems and changing priorities have resulted in a decline in staffing levels while the demand for public health services has increased.