Workplace violence is a widespread problem, and there is growing recognition that workers in healthcare and social service occupations face unique risks and challenges. In 2018, the rate of serious workplace violence incidents (those requiring days off for an injured worker to recuperate) was more than five times greater in these occupations than in private industry on average, with both the number and share of incidents rising faster in these professions than among other workers.

Healthcare and social services account for nearly as many serious violent injuries as all other industries combined. Workplace violence comes at a high cost. It harms workers often both physically and emotionally and makes it more difficult for them to do their jobs. 

Workers in some medical and social service settings are more at risk than others. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2018 workers at psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals experienced the highest rate of violent injuries that resulted in days away from work, at approximately 125 injuries per10,000 full-time employees (FTEs). This is about 6 times the rate for workers at nursing and residential care facilities (21.1/10,000). But even workers involved in ambulatory care, while less likely than other healthcare workers to experience violent injuries, were 1.5 times as likely as workers outside of healthcare to do so.