Latest Violence Statistics From Workplaces in United States

Updated on:

Published on:

May 18, 2026

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Health & Safety

10 Workplace Violence Statistics for 2026

Workplace violence can take many forms, from threats and verbal abuse to physical assault and homicide. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) defines workplace violence broadly as an act or threat of violence directed toward people who are at work or on duty.

For employers, workplace violence is more than a security issue. It is an occupational safety concern that can result in injuries, lost workdays, emotional distress, employee turnover, and, in the most serious cases, loss of life.

The latest federal statistics do not all cover the same year because workplace fatality, injury, and victimization data are released on different schedules. The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics fatality figures cover 2024, while other federal studies provide additional insight into healthcare violence, nonfatal injuries, offenders, and reporting patterns.

The following 10 workplace violence statistics show how frequently violence affects American workers, which occupations face elevated risks, and why workplace violence prevention continues to be an important part of occupational safety.

1. 470 Workplace Homicides Occurred in 2024

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recorded 470 workplace homicides in the United States in 2024, compared with 458 in 2023.

These deaths occurred within a total of 5,070 fatal occupational injuries recorded during the year. Although workplace homicides represent only one part of the broader workplace violence problem, the figure shows the potentially severe consequences workers can face in certain occupations and environments.

BLS also recorded 733 fatal occupational injuries within its broader category of violent acts in 2024. That category includes both homicides and suicides, so it should not be interpreted as 733 workers being killed by another person.

2. 379 Workplace Homicides Involved Shootings in 2024

Firearms were involved in a large majority of fatal workplace homicides. According to BLS, 379 workers died in shootings by another person in 2024.

By comparison, 43 workplace deaths involved stabbing, cutting, or slashing by another person, while 32 involved hitting, kicking, or beating.

These figures show that workplace violence is not limited to disagreements among employees. Incidents may also involve customers, patients, clients, robbers, visitors, or other members of the public.

3. 34.5% of Protective-Service Worker Fatalities Were Homicides

Certain occupations face significantly greater exposure to violence because confrontation can be part of the work itself.

BLS recorded 281 fatal occupational injuries among protective-service workers in 2024, including 97 homicides. This means approximately 34.5% of fatal injuries among protective-service workers were homicides.

The statistic highlights why workplace violence prevention strategies should be based on the actual hazards employees face rather than applying the same controls to every workplace.

Nonfatal Workplace Violence Can Be Much More Common

Workplace homicides represent the most severe outcome, but thousands of additional workers experience assaults and other violent incidents that result in injuries, medical treatment, lost workdays, or restricted duties.

4. 54,510 Violent-Act Cases Resulted in Days Away From Work

BLS recorded 54,510 private-industry cases involving violent acts that resulted in days away from work during 2023–2024.

These cases occurred at an annualized rate of 2.6 cases per 10,000 full-time workers. The median time away from work was six days.

BLS also recorded 23,830 additional violent-act cases involving job transfer or restricted work. Altogether, 78,340 cases resulted in days away from work, restricted duties, or job transfer during the two-year period.

5. 48% of Nonfatal Workplace-Violence Injuries Affected Healthcare Workers

Healthcare stands out as one of the industries most affected by workplace violence.

NIOSH reports that healthcare employees represented approximately 10% of the workforce but experienced 48% of nonfatal workplace-violence injuries during 2021–2022.

Healthcare employees frequently interact with patients and family members who may be distressed, confused, frightened, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or experiencing behavioral or mental-health crises.

This makes workplace violence prevention particularly important in hospitals, clinics, emergency departments, residential care facilities, and other healthcare environments.

6. Healthcare Recorded 14 Workplace-Violence Injuries Per 10,000 Workers

NIOSH reports that healthcare experienced 14 nonfatal workplace-violence injuries involving days away from work per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers during 2021–2022.

Across all industries combined, the comparable rate was 4.3 per 10,000 workers. This means the healthcare rate was more than three times higher than the overall rate.

The difference demonstrates why violence in healthcare should be treated as an occupational hazard rather than simply accepted as part of dealing with difficult patients or visitors.

7. 1.3 Million Nonfatal Workplace Violent Crimes Occurred Annually

Not every violent incident produces an injury serious enough to appear in occupational injury records.

A joint federal study by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, BLS, and NIOSH estimated an average of 1.3 million nonfatal workplace violent victimizations per year from 2015 through 2019.

The estimated annual rate was eight violent crimes per 1,000 workers age 16 or older.

The study included offenses such as simple assault, aggravated assault, robbery, rape, and sexual assault, providing a broader view of workplace violence than injury records alone.

8. 529,000 Workplace-Violence Injuries Were Treated in Emergency Departments

Federal researchers estimated that approximately 529,000 nonfatal workplace-violence injuries were treated in hospital emergency departments between 2015 and 2019.

This represented a rate of 7.1 emergency-department-treated injuries per 10,000 full-time equivalent workers.

Physical assaults involving actions such as hitting, kicking, and beating accounted for 83% of these emergency-department-treated injuries.

Contusions and abrasions were among the most common injuries, although workers also experienced sprains, strains, and traumatic brain injuries.

9. 47% of Nonfatal Workplace Violence Was Committed by Strangers

Workplace violence does not always involve conflict between coworkers.

Federal victimization data for 2015–2019 found that 47% of nonfatal workplace violence was committed by strangers.

This is especially relevant for employees who interact regularly with members of the public, including retail workers, drivers, healthcare employees, hospitality staff, security personnel, and customer-service workers.

When assessing violence risks, employers should therefore consider customers, patients, passengers, visitors, contractors, and other people who may interact with employees.

10. Only 39% of Nonfatal Workplace Violence Was Reported to Police

One of the biggest challenges in measuring workplace violence is underreporting.

According to the federal Indicators of Workplace Violence study, only about 39% of nonfatal workplace violence incidents were reported to police during 2015–2019.

This means police statistics alone cannot provide a complete picture of the problem. Workers may consider certain behavior part of the job, believe an incident is not serious enough to report, or choose to rely on internal workplace procedures instead.

Clear internal reporting systems can help employers identify recurring threats, patterns of aggression, and other warning signs before a more serious incident occurs.

What These Workplace Violence Statistics Mean

These statistics show that workplace violence remains a serious occupational safety concern, ranging from threats and assaults to workplace homicides. Healthcare workers, protective-service employees, and workers who regularly interact with the public can face particularly high levels of exposure.

Employers can reduce risk by identifying workplace hazards, creating clear reporting procedures, developing emergency response plans, and providing appropriate workplace violence training . Training can help employees recognize warning signs, understand reporting procedures, and know how to respond when threatening behavior occurs.