Workplace homicides committed by firearm: recent trends and narrative text analysis.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Criminology
• Occupational Safety

Background:

• Firearm workplace homicides represent a critical public health challenge in the U.S.
• Existing data necessitates a contemporary, national analysis of these incidents and firearm acquisition methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a national examination of firearm workplace homicides from 2011-2015.
• To investigate the firearm access pathways utilized by perpetrators in these fatal events.

Main Methods:

• Data abstracted from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (2011-2015).
• Classification of homicides based on perpetrator relationship, motive (robbery vs. non-robbery), circumstance (argument vs. other), and firearm access points via narrative analysis.

Main Results:

• 1553 firearm workplace homicides occurred between 2011-2015.
• Non-robbery homicides comprised nearly 50% of incidents and showed an upward trend.
• Arguments with customers or coworkers were common precursors, with perpetrators often demonstrating immediate firearm access.

Conclusions:

• Immediate and ready firearm access was prevalent in argument-related workplace homicides.
• Reducing firearm accessibility in workplaces may be a key strategy for preventing deadly violence.
• Addressing this reemerging public health concern requires comprehensive violence prevention strategies.