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Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
For more information call: (202) 219-8211
Calling for an end to killings of workers in late-night retail
establishments, U.S. Secretary of Labor, Alexis M. Herman today released
recommendations by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
that could significantly reduce the number of employees murdered or injured on
the job during robberies and other violence acts.
"OSHA's Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
in Late-Night Retail Establishments provide a common sense approach to
stemming the risks and hazards too often associated with late night jobs,"
Herman said. "These guidelines can help employees and their employers avoid
being victims."
Herman added, "The statistics are shocking. Homicide is the number one
killer of women in the workplace, and the second leading cause for all American
workers. And 48% of all homicides in the workplace occur in retail. The risk is
apparently greater for those who work at night in convenience stores, liquor
stores and gasoline stations. We must do all we can to insure the safety of all
of America's workers as they strive to make a decent wage to sustain themselves
and their families."
OSHA's research shows that employees are at greater risk of homicide or
assault if they are involved in the exchange of money, have routine contact
with the public, work alone or in small numbers, work late or very early hours
and work in high crime areas. According to data recently released by the
Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, murders accounted for 13.5% of
occupational-related deaths between 1980 and 1994.
"Some industries, unions and advocacy groups are taking the lead in
fighting back to reduce the risks of violence in the workplace. But we can do
more," Herman said. "I urge all late night retail employers, whether large or
small, to consider these recommendations and implement them to enhance the
safety of their workers and their customers."
Herman stressed that the recommendations are not "a one size fits all"
approach. But suggest that employers tailor a prevention program specific to
their needs.
The recommendations have five key elements to an effective violence
prevention program:
(1) management commitment and employee involvement; (2) worksite
analysis; (3) hazard prevention and control; (4) training and education; and
(5) evaluation.
OSHA Administrator Charles N. Jeffress said, "Our recommendations are
not a new standard or regulation nor a substitute for any current standards.
They are tools that we hope will raise the awareness of employers and provide
them with the information they need to help protect their employees."
Jeffress outlined some of the report's objectives. The first objective
is to prevent violence, which begins with management commitment and
employee involvement. All violent and threatening incidents should be taken
seriously and that management should develop a plan for workplace security,
working with police and other public safety agencies to improve physical
security.
Worksite analysis includes identifying risk factors common in
retail establishments, such as contact with the public, money exchange and
working alone or in small numbers or in high-crime areas. Such analysis should
also include a review of past incidents, a workplace security review and a
periodic safety audits.
Hazard prevention and control includes using adequate lighting,
installing video surveillance cameras, drop safes and physical barriers. It is
also recommended that businesses limit areas of customer access, increase staff
levels at night, establish emergency communications procedures and implement
standard operating procedures for both management and employees to follow in
the aftermath of a violent incident.
Training and educating all employees, supervisors and security
personnel to ensure awareness of potential security hazards and the procedures
for protecting themselves and co-workers.
An evaluation is the final recommendation, for employers to
develop a process that helps them assess risk factors, evaluate methods of
hazard control, and identify training needs. This process should include record
keeping, incident reports, police recommendations and notes of safety meetings.
Editor's Note: Copies of the report, Recommendations for Workplace
Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments (OSHA
publication #31531) are available to the news media, free-of-charge, by
contacting OSHA's Office of Public Affairs at (202) 219-8151. All other
individuals should contact either OSHA's Publication Office at (202) 219-4667,
or the U.S. Government Printing Office at (202) 512-000.
# # #
Workplace Violence Prevention Programs
Occupational Safety and
Health Administration
1998
Violence in the workplace is a major safety and health issue. An average
of 1,000 workers are murdered, and nearly a million are assaulted in the
workplace each year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of
Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI) for 1996, homicide continues to be the
second leading cause of death for all American workers and the leading cause
for women. There were 912 workplace homicides in 1996, accounting for 15 per
cent of the total 6,112 fatal work injuries in the United States.
Although homicides have decreased nationally, and in workplaces
overall, homicides in the retail trade industry increased and accounted for 48
percent of the workplace homicides in 1996. Below are some of the voluntary
recommendations OSHA announced in the April 1998 publication titled
Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late Night Retail
Establishments (OSHA publication #3153).
These recommendations are based on a violence prevention program
including five components: (1) management commitment and employee involvement;
(2) worksite analysis; (3) hazard prevention and control; (4) safety and health
training; and (5) evaluation.
Common Risk Factors in Retail Establishments:
- Contact with the public
- Exchange of money
- Delivery of passengers, goods, or services
- Working alone or in small numbers
- Working late night or early morning hours
- Working in high-crime areas
Recommendations:
OSHA recognizes that each establishment is different, and accordingly,
the recommendations encourage employers to evaluate their needs and adopt one
or more, or all, of the following recommendations. (These are not all
inclusive; please refer to the OSHA publication #3153.)
- Improve visibility by providing adequate lighting and installing
mirrors; keep signs and shelves low.
- Install drop safes and signs that indicate little cash is kept
on-hand.
- Maintain video surveillance.
- Provide silent and personal alarms.
- Establish emergency procedures including communications systems,
training and education.
- Restrict customer access by reducing store hours and closing portions
of a store.
- Take precautions when going to remote, isolated spots such as garbage
areas and outdoor freezers.
- Lock doors not in use.
- Increase staffing during high-risk periods.
- Install bullet-resistant enclosures.
Archived News Release--Caution:
information may be out of date.
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