Hospital-Treated Injury Due to Workplace Violence: Trends during Changing Economic Times

BACKGROUND:  The United States economy was officially in recession from December 2007 through December 2008; the impact of the recession was sustained in following years. Previous studies have shown procyclical trends between the economy and occupational injury with relation to the economy; e.g., as the economy gets worse, occupational injury from falls decreases. However, other studies have shown the relationship between the economy and forms of violence and the economy to be countercyclical; e.g., as the economy gets worse domestic violence and suicide increase.  The purpose of this study is to explore the association between the economy and the incidence of hospital-treated injuries due to workplace violence, including the specific types of injury inflicted as well as the mechanism (blunt force vs. penetrating) and intent (assaultive vs. self-inflicted).

METHODS:  Cases were unique hospital-treated injury events obtained using Minnesota hospital discharge (both in- and out-patient) data from 2002-2012, which includes coded physician diagnoses. Cases were Minnesota residents having sustained work-related injury due to violence. Data was analyzed to provide a descriptive epidemiology of these cases.

RESULTS:  We identified 7633 cases of hospital-treated injury associated with workplace violence, having occurred from 2002-2012, comprised of 4412 males and 3219 females. A positive association between the economy and workplace violence related injury incidence were observed. The incidence and rate of workplace violence associated injuries increased from 2002 and peaked in 2008. Following this, there was a steep decline till the beginning of 2009 coinciding with the economic recession. After 2009, the number and incidence rate of injuries related to workplace violence rose again. When stratified by age groups, the younger age groups contributed the most to the injury trends during the study period.  We also describe the nature, mechanism, and intent of the injuries sustained.

CONCLUSIONS:  We conclude that workplace violence has been increasing since 2002 till 2012 with a decline from 2008 to 2009. Therefore, the overall trend of injuries related to workplace violence appears to be procyclical, with a one year lag. However, this association is strongest amongst the younger age groups. As the economy strengthens, physicians can expect to diagnose and treat more injury due to workplace violence.