In this section
Who is at risk?
Everyone is at risk to be a victim of workplace violence.
The truth is that workplace violence can strike anywhere, anytime, and no one is immune.
Factors that increase risk
Several federal, state, and local authorities have researched and identified factors that may increase the risk of violence for some workers at certain work sites. Some of these factors are:
- Stress
- High risk environments such as health care and social service
OSHA's Workplace Violence website lists several risk factors:
- Contact with the public
- Exchange of money
- Delivery of passengers, goods, or services
- Having a mobile workplace such as a taxicab or police cruiser
- Working with unstable or volatile persons in health care, social service, or criminal justice settings
- Working alone or in small numbers
- Working late at night or during early morning hours
- Working in high-crime areas
- Guarding valuable property or possessions
- Working in community-based settings
