In the last year, we have thought a lot about violence in our schools. But the facts show that violence most often occurs away from schools - it occurs on our streets and in our homes. And violence frequently occurs in the workplace as we have recently seen at two Colorado T.V. stations, a Subway shop, a Wal-Mart in Castle Rock, an office complex in Seattle, and even in the Mormon Family History Library in Salt Lake City. First, an increase in our ability to detect and prevent workplace violence. And second, securing your assistance in the passage of two important bills to strengthen our domestic violence laws - HB 1158 and HB 1263.
Workplace violence can include the spectrum from offensive language to homicide.
The circumstances of workplace violence vary. Workplace violence is a substantial contributor to death and injury on the job. Homicide has become the second leading cause of occupational injury death, exceeded only by motor vehicle accidents. Estimates of nonfatal workplace assaults vary, but the National Crime Victimization Survey estimates that each year approximately two million people are assaulted while at work or on duty. And as I will describe in a moment, the domestic violence virus that follows employees into the workplace greatly impacts the productivity of the workplace.