Homicide was reported to be the third leading cause of death on the job for men and the primary cause for women.

Workplace violence can be generally defined as verbal and physical assault or any violence that occurs in the workplace even if its source is unrelated to the work environment, self-directed assault such as suicide is included.

Homicide is the leading cause of death for women in the workplace. Intruder-initiated violence occurs when a non-employee initiates violence in a workplace. In cases of domestic violence, an angry spouse pursues his partner to the worksite and attacks or threatens her there, constituting a work-related crime.

Employee use of drugs and alcohol can result in reduced effectiveness at work and an increase in violence. Workers who abuse drugs and alcohol at the worksite increase the risk of engaging in intimidation or violence with co-workers.