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Introduction Traditionally, when employers have addressed worker health, safety, and security, they have been concerned about reducing workplace accidents, improving workers’ safety practices and reducing health hazards at work. However, over the past decade providing security for employees has grown in importance. Heading the security concerns for many employers is workplace violence. In light of the increasing frequencies of workplace violence, this paper will discuss an employer’s management of violence in the workplace based upon several resources conducted for this research. NIOSH Statistics on Workplace Violence The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related disease and injury. The Institute is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC). NIOSH was established by the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, which also established the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, (OSHA). The same Act of Congress created NIOSH and OSHA, however they are two distinct agencies with separate responsibilities. NIOSH is in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is a research agency. OSHA is in the U.S. Department of Labor and is responsible for creating and enforcing workplace safety and health regulations. NIOSH and OSHA often work together toward the common goal of protecting worker safety and health. Estimates by NIOSH indicate that 10-15 workplace homicides occur every week. Annually, NIOSH estimates that an additional million people are attacked at work, (Piturro, 2003). About 70% of the workplace fatalities involved attacks against workers such as police officers, taxi drivers and convenience store clerks. Often, these deaths occur during armed robbery attempts. However, across different industries there are increasing numbers of disgruntled employees or former employees who have resorted to homicide in the workplace to deal with their anger and grievance.
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