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.
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