Workplace Violence Continues Downward Trend, Researcher Says

Workplace homicides and assaults are continuing a downward trend, according to NCCI Holdings Inc., a provider of workers’ compensation and injury data.

Homicides dropped 25 percent between 2000 and 2006 and are down 61 percent since 1992, Boca Raton, Florida-based NCCI said.

Workplace assaults have been more volatile on a year-to-year basis. Assaults that resulted in injuries causing lost time from work declined 18 percent in 2005 but increased 10 percent in 2006. But for 1999 through 2006, the assaults declined at an annual average rate of 0.6 percent, NCCI said.

Crime-related claims have higher medical and indemnity severity than other claims because injuries stemming from crime tend to be more serious, NCCI said.

Robberies are connected with 70 percent of workplace homicides, with victims tending to work primarily in jobs that involve direct customer contact and easy access to valuables such as cash.

Filed by Roberto Ceniceros of Business Insurance, a sister publication of Workforce Management. To comment, e-mail editors@workforce.com.

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