Workplace Violence: Risk Lies With Employer.

Despite a growing concern about workplace violence, fewer than half the employers who responded to a recent survey said they conducted background checks of prospective employees and 39% of the respondents said they issued photo identification to employees. The survey, by the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc., also showed that 58% of employers provided in-house training to identify potentially violent behavior.

Workplace violence costs about $4.2 billion annually, according to the Workplace Violence Research Institute. The institute also estimates that on every work day, 16,400 threats are made in the workplace, 722 workers are attacked and 43,400 workers are harassed. The U.S. Department of Justice's National Crime Victimization Survey reports almost 2 million assaults and threats against U.S. workers annually.

State legislatures and the courts are pointing to the need for employers to manage this risk. California lawmakers passed a law requiring health-care facilities to increase worker safety and security. Jury awards for workplace violence are rising, with amounts like $5 million becoming more common, according to the research institute.

The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that employers train employees about potential security hazards and educate staff on ways to protect themselves and co-workers. It also says employers should identify high-risk situations by conducting workplace walk-throughs and analyzing injury and illness data. The institute suggests that employers review pre-employment screening practices, establish a confidential hot line for employees to relate information and prepare a crisis-response plan.