Chicago Workers' Compensation Attorney Blog

New directives were recently announced in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) press release regarding how OSHA personnel should respond to complaints and incidents of workplace violence. The directive also addresses inspection issues of industries that have a high risk of workplace violence such as social service and healthcare facilities and late night business such as gas stations and convenient stores.

Our Chicago workers' compensation lawyers know that violence in the workplace is a serious occupational hazard. In the past 15 years, it has ranked near the top as a leading cause of death on the job. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that during 2006 through 2010 over 3,000 victims were killed at work as the result of a homicide.

OSHA inspections occurring during 2008 through 2010 at facilities in Maine, Massachusetts and New York have resulted in violations and fines to employers for not giving workers the information and skills needed to protect them from workplace violence incidents. The incidents in Massachusetts and New York resulted in death to workers from assaults at work.

A spokesman for OSHA feels that if employers are pro-active in protecting their employees these incidents can be prevented or greatly reduced. Studies by several organizations including the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health demonstrate companies that put into practice effective safety procedures can decrease the occurrence of workplace violence.

Additional information for employers, including Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Health Care and Social Service Workers and Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments can be found on OSHA's Preventing Workplace Violence website.

What are some of the risk factors for late-night retail workers?
-Working alone in a store that has poor lighting in the store and parking area.
-Any exchange of money can lead to robberies.
-Working alone in a store or area that is isolated.
-Working in a store that sells alcohol.
-Staff needs training to recognize and handle escalating aggressive and hostile behavior.

Risk factors effecting social service and health care workers include:
-Hospitals are being used more by the criminal justice system for holding and care of criminals; many are disturbed and violent.
-Escalating client frustration at clinics and emergency rooms due to long waiting times.
-Trauma patients in emergency rooms accompanied by gang members and hysterical family members.
-Decreases in staffing leads to less supervision during visiting hours and mealtimes or when staff is away during a patient transfer to another area.
-Working alone with a patient during an exam.
-Going to isolated areas alone without backup or a means of communication to get immediate assistance.
-Staff not being trained on how to handle hostile behavior.