제  목 : Violence Guidelines Issued for Retail Sector
  일  자 : 1996년 04월
  제공처 : Occupational Safety and Health News for General Industry

    To address the growing concern of violence in the workplace, OSHA
  issues draft guidelines for night retail establishments.

    The guidelines are advisory in nature and cover a broad spectrum of
  retail workers who provide services during evening and late night hours.

    OSHA seeks to eliminate or reduce worker exposure to violent
  conditions that lead to death or injury. The agency hopes to curb
  violence by implementing, among other control measures, effective
  security devices and administrative work practices.

    Workers in retail establishments face an increased risk of violence.
  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, of the 1,071 workplace
  violence deaths occurring in 1994, half occurred in small retail
  establishments, including grocery or convenience stores, restaurants an
  bars, liquor stores, fast - food restaurants, and gas stations.

    More importantly, while men account for 82% of all homicide victims,
  women are the victims in 53% of retail homicides.

    Certain racial groups are also disproportionately represented ; African
  Americans and Asian Americans comprise an eighth of the work force but
  constitute a fourth of all workplace homicide victims.

    The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
  cited the following six factors that increase the risk of homicide in
  the workplace :

  - Exchange of money with the public ;

  - Working alone or in small numbers ;

  - Working late nights or early morning hours ;

  - Working in high - crime areas ;

  - Guarding valuable property or possessions ; and

  - Working in community settings.

    In 1987, the National Association of Conveniences Stores(NACS) adopted
  a nationwide robbery deterrence package that made stores less attractive
  by reducing cash, maximizing the take/risk ratio, and training
  employees.

    However, the trade association takes issue with many of OSHA's
  assumptions, particularly recommendations contained in the OSHA
  guidelines.

    " OSHA's draft guidelines were developed without and consultation with
  individuals and organizations that have been studying the issue of
  retail safety for several decades. Indeed, the NACS has been studying
  crime in convenience stores for three decades and has completed several
  research projects specifically relating to multiple clerk staffing and
  other possible safety strategies," said NACS in a prepared statedment.

    " While these research efforts are listed as suggested readings by
  OSHA, their findings, particularly [on conflicting evidence evaluating
  whether the use of] two clerks [lowers the incidence of robbery] are
  largely ignored in the draft guidelines."

    OSHA's new guidelines are particularly appropriate for workers in
  retail trades who provide services during evening and night hours.
  The agency also anticipates that other establishments such as drug
  stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, and eating and drinking
  establishments, may find these recommendations helpful.

    According to the guidelines, the primary hazard faced by employees
  working in a late night retail establishment is assault during an armed
  robbery.

    OSHA recommends employers institute physical changes in the workplace
  that will help eliminate or reduce hazards. For example, physical
  barriers, such as bullet proof enclosures between customers and
  employees, provide the greatest protection for workers.

    OSHA also points to evidence showing that having two clerks working in
  a store may make a robbery more difficult to complete and, therefore,
  more unsuitable.

    However, NACS objects to this conclusion and believes that OSHA should
  have waited for all the research to be completed before recommending any
  procedures.

    "OSHA's draft guidelines are premature in that its research arm,
  NIOSH, is currently engaged in research in the state of Virginia to
  Study potential crime - deterrence measures, including the issue of
  multiple clerks. This research is not yet completed and OSHA does not
  explain its decision to apparently preempt this important research."

    The trade association also believes that the chance of violence
  increases when there are multiple staffs.

    They point to the example of two clerks trying to overpower a robber
  or one clerk startles a robber by emerging from a backroom, the
  likelihood of violence increases by 80%.

    OSHA will accept comments on the draft guidelines through
  June 30,1996.