Citation

Tiesman HM, Hendricks S, Konda S, Hartley D. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2014; 56(6): 621-627.

Affiliation

From the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Analysis and Field Evaluations Branch, Morgantown, WVa.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0000000000000147

PMID

24854254

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: Enumerate and describe physical assaults occurring to Pennsylvania education workers.

METHODS:: A cross-sectional survey was mailed to a random sample of 6450 workers, stratified on gender, occupation, and region. Logistic regression was used to examine risk factors for physical assault.

RESULTS:: During the 2009-2010 school year, 309 of 2514 workers were assaulted 597 times. Special education teachers, urban workers, and those in their first 3 years of employment were at an increased risk. Most assaults did not lead to medical care or time away from work; however, those assaulted were significantly more likely to find work stressful, have low job satisfaction, and consider leaving the education field (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.5 [95% CI = 1.5 to 4.1]; AOR = 2.4 [95% CI = 1.5 to 3.9]; AOR = 10.7 [95% CI = 4.1 to 28.1]).

CONCLUSIONS:: Although education workers experienced few serious physical assaults, the impact of this violence was considerable.

Language: en