Citation

Mayhew C. Pol. Pract. Health Saf. 2003; 1(1): 31-58.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (Great Britain))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Occupational violence is a topic that is attracting increasing attention across the industrialised world. Yet discussion of violence at work has remained largely outside of mainstream occupational safety and health discourse. Furthermore, there is little reliable information about the distribution of occupational violence in industrialised countries, except for homicides and those critical incidents that become 'media events'.

This paper provides an overview of the relevant research literature and conceptual frameworks, an analysis of the available data, identifies some 'hot spots' where workers are most at risk, lists commonly reported characteristics of perpetrators of violence, and provides a brief synopsis of some effective prevention strategies.