Workplace Violence Essay -- Workplace Health and Safety

Workplace Violence According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), " each week, an average of 20 workers are murdered and 18,000 are assaulted at work. Non-fatal assault’s at work result in millions of lost days and cost businesses’ millions of lost workdays. And the most disturbing finding homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace." (http://www.ocpapsych.com/mtart4.htm). As a result, violence in the workplace has received considerable attention in the press and media and also in safety and health professionals. The Medical College of Georgia Administrative Policies and Procedures office of Primary Responsibility: Public Safety Division, pointed out that " Workplace Violence shall mean any behavior, act or statement that would be interpreted by a reasonable person to be aggressive, intimidating, harassing, or unsafe, and which carries an expressed or implied intent to cause harm to a person or property." (http://www.inc.com/articles/details/00,,art3150,00.html). In the words of researcher and industrial psychologist, Dr. Matthew S. O’ Connell, " There are three psychological indicators that are most likely to show the potential for angry and/or violent behavior on the job. First, low locus of control, people who have a low locus of control do not feel that they are in control of their lives. They tend to be fatalistic and to perceive that things happen to them randomly, rather than as a result of their own actions. They often feel persecuted and victimized by others. Over times, this feeling of being out of control can cause a high level of stress, which may lead to irrational or violent action against themselves and others. Second, Job stress can be defined as the harmful... ...p/publib/story_clean_cpy.asp (2000, Jan 02). Marra Janice. (2000, Feb 01). Profile: Profiling employees and assessing the potential for violence. (Public Management), (Online). Available: http://ptg.djnr.com/ccroot/asp/publib/story_clean_cpy.asp? (2000,Feb 01). Smith, Kerri. (No Date). Workplace Violence Avoidable, (Online). Available: http://www.careerlab.com/art.avoidaable.htm. (2000, Nov 20). Tan, Manny, Psy.D. (No Date). The Rising Tide of Domestic Violence in the workplace: Is the office no linger a safe haven? (Online). Available: http://www.ocpapsych.com/mtart7.htm (2000, Nov 22). Tan, Manny, Psy. D. (No Date). Workplace& Targeted Violence,(Online). Available: http://www.ocpapsych.com/mtart7.htm (2000 , Nov. 22). Tan, Manny, Psy.D. (No Date). Workplace violence& Media Technology, (Online). Available: http://www.ocpapsych.com/mtart4.htm. (2000, Nov 22).