Workplace violence is not confined to isolated and highly visible tragedy. It may be manifested as a threat from another person, verbal abuse, harassment or intimidation from another person, physical abuse, robbery or a serious confrontation with another customer, patient, staff member, visitor or contractor.
For security employees assessing workplace violence risk, the challenge lies in understanding which risks are genuine, which data is relevant, and what really mitigates risk. This Workplace Violence Statistics 2026 update provides the most recent and current statistics, identifies who is at greater risk, and offers plans of a more practical nature.
Workplace Violence Statistics 2026: What the Latest Data Shows
Here’s an important note: full data on workplace violence for 2026 is not yet available. Statistics for workplace injuries are typically published after the end of the reporting year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 fatal occupational injuries data show that there were 5,070 deaths from work injuries, with 470 resulting from intentional actions resulting in homicide.
In addition, the BLS reported that there were 2.5 million nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses in private industry in 2024. Not every one of these were violent, but the number is a reminder of why employers must take a wider approach to safety rather than waiting for the serious occurrence.
According to the National Safety Council, assaults are one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities, leading to many thousands of serious injury accidents for the 2023-2024 reporting year.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Risk of workplace violence is unevenly distributed. There are several other higher-risk work conditions identified by OSHA:
- Exchanging money with the public
- Working alone or in isolated areas
- Providing care or services to people in distress
- Working late at night
- Working in locations with higher crime rates
- Handling disputes, enforcement, or customer complaints
According to NIOSH, employees in sales and protective services and transportation have a higher risk of death from fatal violence, and there is a high prevalence for workers in healthcare and social assistance when considering nonfatal violence that results in days away from work.
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High-Risk Industries to Watch
Hospitals, retail stores, hotels, transportation companies, property management companies and public-facing service providers can be more exposed. It is possible for a hospital to encounter a patient or visitor who is behaving in an aggressive manner. Robbery may be a threat to a convenience store. Resolving tenant disputes or tenant trespassing issues may be the responsibility of a property manager.
The commonality is the contact with the public, in an environment that could be stressful, unpredictable or high value.
What the Numbers Do Not Tell You
While statistics are helpful, they fail to account for all dangers. Many incidents remain unreported because the employees don’t believe anything will ever happen, they don’t want the person pointing a finger in their direction, or they don’t recognize verbal threats as an incident.
Which is why employers should go beyond the injury logs. Check security notices, HR problems, customer issues, access control issues, and employee feedback. Patterns generally precede big events.
As a security provider, most often security companies can be seen focusing on the camera, but the bigger problem is reporting, poor visitor control, or staff that are not familiar with de-escalation.
Practical Steps Employers Can Take
A strong prevention plan does not need to be complicated. Start with the basics:
- Create a written workplace violence prevention policy
- Train employees to report threats early
- Use clear visitor and access-control procedures
- Improve lighting, locks, alarms, and camera coverage
- Establish a response plan for escalating behavior
- Document incidents consistently
- Review risks after terminations, disputes, or major site changes
Final Thoughts
According to workplace violence statistics 2026, workplace violence is a practical safety issue, not a yearly compliance risk assessment. Despite the new official statistics, there is continued risk of even more in public-facing, health, retail, transport and service settings.
The most optimal next step is a site specific review. Observe areas of interaction, tension points, poor access, and moments when staff feel least supported. It is important to start good prevention before an incident becomes a statistic.
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