Did you know that one in every five on-the-job deaths is caused not by workplace accidents, but by violence? That’s the word from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which recently released new data about workplace injuries.
The bureau found that nearly 17 percent of the 4,609 job-related deaths recorded nationwide last year were linked to some kind of violence in the workplace. In raw numbers, that represents 780 people.
Needless to say, a thorough background check can do wonders when it comes to preventing potential violence at work. People with histories of domestic abuse; assault and battery; and/or drug and alcohol abuse often demonstrate anger management and personal control problems that can possibly lead to on-the-job violence, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Background checks can identify applicants who have demonstrated these types of unacceptable workplace behaviors.
Background checks do add a layer of time and complexity to the hiring process. And they may not prevent all types of workplace violence. But they are an important step for a company that is trying to make sure its employees have a safe working environment. And they can help reduce the risk that your company makes headlines for all the wrong reasons.
For more information about preventing workplace violence through background screening, take a look at this report.
