Workplace Impact and Research

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)

NIOSH defines workplace violence as the act or threat of violence, ranging from verbal abuse to physical assaults directed toward people at work or on duty.

NIOSH's stance is that workplace violence is a preventable occupational hazard, and it funds, conducts, and publishes research on risk factors and prevention strategies. Employers should develop comprehensive violence prevention programs including environmental designs, administrative controls, and behavior modifications.

In 2020, 20,050 private industry workers experienced trauma from nonfatal workplace violence requiring days away from work: 73% female, 62% aged 25-54, 76% in healthcare and social assistance, 22% requiring 31+ days away, 22% involving 3-5 days away.

Center for disease control (CDC)

The CDC supports initiatives to address the intersection of workplace violence and mental health, advocating for comprehensive prevention strategies that engage employees and promote safe environments.

Between 2011 and 2018, the rate of violent incidents involving healthcare workers increased by 63%

U.S Department of Labor Statistics:

Overall, workplace violence is the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries, and an average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted each week in the U.S..
Healthcare workers make up about 10% of the workforce but account for nearly half of all nonfatal workplace violence injuries.
From 2021–2022, there were 57,610 nonfatal cases of workplace violence that resulted in days away from work, job restriction, or transfer.
An average of 1.3 million nonfatal workplace violent victimizations occurred annually between 2015 and 2019.
Physical assaults (hitting, kicking, or beating) accounted for 83% of the injuries from nonfatal workplace violence
From 2016 to 2020 there were 207 deaths due to violence in the workplace in the health care and social assistance industry within the private sector.