Curbing workplace violence in late-night marts: New guidelines from NIOSH

Cincinnati — A new guidance document from NIOSH outlines ways to reduce the risk of injuries and deaths associated with robbery-related violence at gasoline stations and convenience stores.

Retail trade workers are at greater risk of violence and homicide than workers in other industries, NIOSH says. Within the retail sector, gas station and convenience store workers are at an even higher risk.

According to NIOSH, businesses at an increased risk for a violent incident:

• Are open 24 hours
• Are open between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m.
• Don’t offer employees robbery prevention training
• Have cash easily available
• Have a history of robbery or other violent incidents
• Are independently owned or operated

The document details four types of violence that are based on the perpetrator’s relationship to the victim or the place of employment: criminal intent, customer/client, worker-on-worker and personal relationship.

NIOSH lists steps that employers and employees can take to reduce the risk of workplace violence, as well as recommended safety features for doors, windows and other elements inside the store.

“A comprehensive approach, implementing as many measures as possible, may be the most effective,” the agency says.