Here’s a statistic that might surprise you….
Workplace homicides are the 4th leading cause of death in the workplace
according to 2014 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employers have a duty to provide a safe workplace to employees.
Although there is no specific OSHA standard related to workplace violence, the general duty to provide a safe workplace standard requires employers to use “feasible means” to protect workers from acts of violence.
Video Security Can Help Reduce Workplace Violence
Video surveillance and other premises security technologies, like access control systems and panic buttons, won’t always prevent a shooting or other attack. However, the use of video security cameras to monitor the premises can serve as a deterrent and potentially hasten emergency response if an attack occurs.
According to OSHA’s Workplace Violence Portal, of the 4,679 fatal workplace injuries that occurred in the United States in 2014, 403 were workplace homicides. Perhaps more astonishing is statistic that “Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year.”
OSHA recommends a multi-faceted approach to reducing and preventing workplace violence, including a written and well-publicized zero tolerance policy, along with implementation protocols through engineering and administrative personnel and procedures, and ongoing training.
Questions in the OSHA Checklist for assessing workplace safety and risks to safety include the following (link to complete checklist below):
- Is video surveillance provided outside of the building?
- Are remote areas secured during off shifts?
- Are all exterior walkways visible to security personnel?
- Is the parking lot attended or otherwise secured?
- Security cameras or closed-circuit TV in high-risk areas?
- Panic Buttons?
- Security systems, locks, etc. tested on a regular basis and repaired promptly when necessary?
Recent Examples of Workplace Homicides
You can probably recall some of the more significant recent incidents of workplace homicide, like the June 14, 2017 incident at a San Francisco UPS warehouse and the June 2017 incident at a manufacturing facility in Florida. A total of 8 employees died in these two attacks by disgruntled former employees and 2 others were shot.
- June 14, 2017: A gunman wearing a UPS uniform killed 3 UPS employees and injured 2 others at a UPS warehouse facility in the San Francisco area and then killed himself. Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/shooting-reported-near-ups-facility-in-san-francisco-1497462595
- June 5, 2017: A manufacturing facility near Winter Park, Florida was the scene of another workplace shooting. A former employee opened fire and killed 5 before killing himself. News reports say the victims were clearly targeted by the shooter, who had been fired in April. Source: https://www.wsj.com/articles/multiple-deaths-reported-in-florida-shooting-1496670837
Smaller Incidents Occur Almost Daily
Although the major incidents capture national news media attention, with more than 400 workplace homicides occurring in a typical recent year, there’s a workplace homicide happening somewhere almost every day.
Here are two examples from this month:
- In mid-August 2017, an auto repair shop employee was shot and killed at his workplace during a dispute over a vehicle purchase. Source: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article167524757.html
- August 17, 2017: In Brownsburg, Indiana, one man was shot and killed and a woman shot and injured while sitting in a car at their workplace during a shift-change. Police reported at the time the murder and shooting was tied to a domestic dispute. Source: http://fox59.com/2017/08/17/family-reacts-after-young-father-is-killed-in-workplace-shooting-in-brownsburg/
Resources for Implementing Workplace Violence Prevention & Training Programs
Resources for implementing workplace violence prevention programs in your company or other place of business:
Managing Workplace Surveillance – Resources from the Strategic Human Resource Management Association
OSHA Workplace Violence Checklist for Auditing Safety (PDF)
Free Needs Assessment from Vulcan Security Systems
Vulcan Security Systems offers free initial consultations and needs assessments to Alabama businesses. We’re locally-owned and based in Birmingham. Our primary service area is Central and North Alabama, but we have clients all across the state.
This is article #4 in our Summer 2017 series on using video surveillance and related technologies to improve workplace safety, reduce injury claims, and minimize threats of workplace violence.
The final installment will take a look at how video security in the right locations around your campus can boost employee morale and enhance recruiting.
