An Oregon occupational health organization issued a hazard alert on workplace violence for the state, citing U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data on the number of incidents that have occurred since 2018.
The Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, via an Oregon State Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation (FACE) Program alert, cited BLS data that revealed there were 1,780 U.S. workers who have died due to workplace violence since 2018.
Twenty-nine workers have died from workplace violence incidents in Oregon alone.
Most of these incidents occurred in places where money is exchanged, in isolated work sites with few employees present, or at night with low visibility.
A few specific examples the alert cited include:
- a store manager killed by gunshot wounds inflicted by a shooter who entered the store
- a farm worker who was shot and killed by a co-worker he had a history of interpersonal conflict with, and
- a volunteer security guard working at a concert who was shot multiple times while escorting the shooter to their car.
To help in mitigating the hazard, the alert suggested:
- assessing potential risks at the worksite and developing site-specific policies for violence prevention
- developing and practicing emergency procedures, such as drills or triggering an alarm system
- increasing staffing or security at worksites with a history of robbery or violence
- providing de-escalation training and instructing employees to promptly report potentially violent behaviors
- investigating all threats, acts of violence and disruptive behaviors in a timely manner, and
- becoming familiar with multiple ways to contact emergency services, such as calling or texting if available.
