Workplace homicides fastest rising cause of on-the-job deaths
In 2003 workplace homicides increased faster than any other cause of a worker fatality, and females made up 81 percent of the total number of the 631 victims. The American Society of Safety Engineers’ (ASSE) “Workplace Violence Survey and White Paper†urges employers to take action to reduce the incidence of homicide in their workplace.
Homicides were the third leading cause of on-the-job deaths, behind only transportation incidents (No. 1) and falls (No. 2). Of these three top causes of on-the-job deaths, homicide, with its 631 workplace fatalities, is the only one on the rise. Workplace suicides are also on the rise, with 218 recorded in 2003. The majority of homicides were due to shootings with 487, and 58 stabbings.