A Case-Site/Control-Site Study of Workplace Violent Injury

Learning Objectives Understand the nature of events causing injury to employees of retail and service establishments of which employees are most likely to suffer injury. Identify work-site characteristics related to the risk of injury and any factors that favor homicidal versus nonfatal events. Appraise the influence, if any, of employee training, security guards, alarms, and the like on the risk of violent injury in the workplace. Workers in retail and service industries are at high risk for workplace violence. While studies have examined the association between environmental and community factors on robbery risk, few have examined risk factors for fatal and nonfatal employee violent injury. A matched case-site/control-site study was conducted among various retail and service establishments in seven California counties. An interview and environmental assessment was performed in each participating business. Over half of the injury events occurring in case-sites were robbery-related, and nearly 13% were fatal. Businesses open 24 hours and those having a history of violent events were found to be at increased risk for employee injury.