ASSE Offers Workplace Homicide Prevention Measures

Mar 1, 2005 12:00 PM

           

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 631 people fell victim to workplace homicide in 2003 — the first time since 2000 that workplace homicides recorded a rise over the previous year.

The American Society of Safety Engineers is urging employers to take action now to prevent these homicides, and the organization offers the following tips:

• Establish a workplace violence prevention policy; an anti-violence corporate policy; and security policies.

• Improve hiring practices with pre-screening and background checks.

• Train all employees in the warning signs of aggressive and violent behavior.

• Develop a contingency plan for crisis management.

According to the BLS survey, transportation incidents were the No. 1 cause of on-the-job deaths, followed by falls and then homicides. Some 487 of the homicides involved a firearm.

“Employers, under the theory of respondent superior, are vicariously liable for any actions committed by its employees within the scope of their employment,” says JoAnn Sullivan, co-author of ASSE's recent workplace violence survey.

“The employer is liable for actions of the employee when the employee is working — even if the employee is not acting within company policy.”

For more information, visit www.asse.org.

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