Authors
Kraus-JF; Brown-KA; Peek-Asa-C
Source
Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California 1996 Feb:156 pages
Abstract
An attempt was made to estimate the rate of nonfatal workplace assault injuries for California; to describe the types of nonfatal workplace injury assaults with regard to business types involved, gender of the victim, types of workplace situations, and types of weapons used; and to compare reporting trends between CalOSHA 50-20 forms and those reported to selected local police jurisdictions in Southern California. The estimated annual rate of nonfatal workplace assault injuries, based on employer response to CalOSHA was 72.9 per 10,000 workers. There was no significant difference between men and women. The highest rates were reported in police departments and correctional facilities. Higher than normal rates were reported also for public and school bus drivers, total retail, the retail classifications of gas station and other retail, hospitals and health care facilities, schools, and private security. No overlap was noted in reports made to the police and to CalOSHA. Those reported to the police were primarily crime related while those reported to CalOSHA were assault by client, patient, or inmate. This suggested that using only one reporting source for surveillance would result in serious under reporting. The case events occurred primarily in the evening hours. Case sites were twice as likely to have bars or grills on business windows and/or doors. Case sites were seven times more likely to be targeted if they had no windows. Potentially protective effects were noted for installed security devices. Business settings where fatal and nonfatal assaults occurred were identified, and visits to the businesses were made to identify factors associated with the victim, the environment, the work place and the event. A comparison was made to similar businesses from the same area. Identified factors included employee training, security alarm systems, lighting, visibility, operating hours, and general location.
Keywords
NIOSH-Grant; Traumatic-injuries; Risk-factors; Workplace-studies; Workplace-violence; Physical-abuse;
Contact
Epidemiology University of California 10833 LE Conte Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90024-1772
Document Type
Final Grant Report;
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R01-OH-02872
Priority Area
Traumatic Injuries; Disease and Injury;
Source Name
Southern California Injury Prevention Research Center, Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California
Performing Organization
University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California