Retail Worker Hazard Alert: Women Victims of Homicide

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  Three women died from homicide in 2019 while working in convenience and grocery stores. In the last decade, more women have died from homicide at work than any other cause. Homicides are most common among women working in retail. These violent deaths traumatize families, other workers, and the community. Owners and employers should take action to protect themselves and their workers. INCIDENTS-OWNER STABBED DURING ROBBERY: The 59-year-old owner of a corner market was behind the counter and the only person in the store when she was fatally stabbed. At 10:00 a.m. on a Monday, a young man entered. He was seen on security camera in the aisles picking up items. He then walked up to the counter and began robbing her. After he took the money, she tried to stop him, at which point he stabbed her twice. Despite her injuries, she tried to follow him by car but came to a stop and died. The medical examiner reported that even if she would have sheltered in place, she would have died from her injuries. OWNER SHOT DURING ROBBERY: A 79-year-old convenience store owner was working as cashier while her husband was in the store office. At 5 p.m., two men entered the store with guns out and demanded cash. She gave them cash. One of the men ordered her to the store office. Just then her husband came out of the office. The assailant shot her in the back, after which the men fled. Her husband reported that they had been robbed multiple times without anyone being hurt. He also explained that they had added windows to the front of the store and had reduced the hours of operation to prevent crime. CASHIER SHOT DURING ROBBERY: A 30-year-old cashier was working alone in a gas station convenience store. She had worked there for several years. Just after 4 a.m. on a Tuesday, a 19-year-old man entered the store and pointed a handgun at her. He demanded cash and cigarettes which she gave him. He then shot her in the chest. She was able to call 911 but died at the scene. The shooter fled in a stolen vehicle with two other people. The three were arrested shortly after the homicide. REQUIREMENTS: Employers must establish, supervise, and enforce an Accident Prevention Program (APP) that is effective in practice. The APP must be tailored to the needs of your particular workplace and to the types of hazards involved. See WAC 296-800-140. Employers who operate retail establishments late at night must follow the rules in 49.22 RCW. RECCOMENDATIONS: Install bullet proof barriers or enclosures to protect workers. Make checkout counters and high-risk areas visible to more people. Increase staff or prepare for the increased risk of having only one worker on shift. Build relationships with the local community and law enforcement to promote safety. RESOURCES: Benefits to family members of homicide victims from Crime Victims Compensation Program (CVCP) OSHA's Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Occupational Health Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Staff Development Violence Workplace
• Keywords:
  Hazards Homicides Protective Measures Retail Workers Risk Factors Safety Education Safety Measures Safety Practices Training Work Environment Workers Worker Safety

  More +
• Series:
  Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation Reports (FACE)
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Lay Publication
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20062424
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 47-29-2021, 2021 Jan; :1
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2021
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Retail worker hazard alert: women victims of homicide
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:479c246f654ae74fd5fed9bb96fa78a47bbf11c79866c0d0a642d0bcef06f1a72746f14d0c181db02ecb18678525e384d9b49c91641c4687d72e694dd68b4971
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/229101/cdc_229101_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 756.09 KB ]