Citation

Konda S, Tiesman HM, Hendricks S, Gurka KK. Am. J. Ind. Med. 2014; 57(2): 245-253.

Affiliation

Division of Safety Research, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Analysis and Field Evaluations Branch, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/ajim.22283

PMID

24248892

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to examine non-robbery-related occupational homicides in the retail industry from 2003 to 2008.

METHODS: Data were abstracted from the Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries. Motive (robbery- or non-robbery-related) and workplace violence (WPV) typology (Type I-IV) were assigned using narrative text fields. Non-robbery-related homicide rates were calculated and compared among WPV types, demographic characteristics, and occupation.

RESULTS: Twenty-eight percent of homicides that occurred in the retail industry were non-robbery-related. The leading event associated with non-robbery-related homicides was Type II (perpetrated by customers) (34%), followed by Type IV (perpetrated by personal relationship) (31%). The majority of homicides were due to arguments (50%). Security guards and workers in drinking establishments had the highest homicide rates per 100,000 workers (14.3 and 6.0, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Non-robbery-related homicides comprised a meaningful proportion of workplace homicides in the retail industry. Research is needed to develop strategies to prevent non-robbery-related homicides specifically. Am. J. Ind. Med. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en