ABSTRACT
The directive provides guidance on how an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) workplace violence case is developed and which steps OSHA area offices should take to assist employers in addressing the issue of workplace violence. The significance of this directive lies in the fact that it is the first instruction on the enforcement procedures for investigations and inspections that occur as a result of workplace violence incident. Employers may be found in violation of the General Duty Clause if they fail to reduce or eliminate serious recognized hazards. Workplace violence is recognized as an occupational hazard in some industries and environments, which like other safety issues, can be avoided or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions. At the same time, it continues to negatively impact the American workforce. Research has identified factors that may increase the risk of violence at worksites.
