Workplace Violence Impacts at Least 2,000,000 Americans Yearly, OSHA Reports

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) advises that at least 2,000,000 Americans are impacted by workplace violence each year. OSHA tells us that the actual number is higher as "many" more cases go unreported. This is one of the reasons why the WVPI recommends that all employers of human resources have workplace violence prevention policies and procedures in place, and to frequently communicate this fact to employees as part of prevention strategies.

This 2,000,000 figure is not just a meaningless statistic. It involves real people, the employees personally affected and their families -- like our friends Scot and Flo Rice.

(L-R) Flo Rice, Kathleen M. Bonczyk founder of the WVPI, Scott Rice and Elijah Manley (candidate for Florida House of Representatives District 94) at a WVPI symposium held in Santa Fe, Texas. Mr. Manley attended school at age 12 with the convicted Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooter.

Flo, a substitute teacher at Santa Fe High School, was shot six times during that school's mass shooting on May 18, 2018 when 10 innocents, two teachers and eight students, were savagely murdered by a student wearing a black duster similar to those notoriously worn by the Columbine killers. Flo was one of 13 people wounded that day.

Flo survived thanks to Scot's quick action. Flo and Scot recounted their experiences in videos which was can be viewed here: https://www.workplaceviolencepreventioninstitute.org/single-post/the-aftermath-of-workplace-violence-on-an-american-teacher-and-her-family

The Rice family proves that workplace violence is real, and why it is so important for all of us to do our parts to mitigate the risk. Once the perpetrator of violence such as an active shooter enters the workplace, the battle is lost. Someone is going to get hurt. The detrimental effects of workplace violence can last a lifetime, even for those who are the "lucky ones" who survive.