Women's Safety and Health Issues at Work

Serious Injury

Compared to men, women have a much lower rate of job-related deaths. Still, homicide accounts for almost a third (27%) of work-related deaths in women - it is the second leading cause of injury death for women in the workplace.1 Workplace homicides are mainly robbery- related, and often occur in grocery/convenience stores, eating and drinking establishments, and gasoline service stations.

NIOSH publications that directly relate to serious injuries in working women include:

Homicide against women in the workplace
This study was done to examine the nature and magnitude of violence against women in the workplace. The majority of female homicide victims were employed in two industries: retail trade and services.

Where African-American women work and the nonfatal work-related injuries they experienced in the U.S. in 1996, compared to women of other races
This study was done to find out where African- American women work and the injuries they experienced on the job compared to women of other races. The study found African-American women experienced higher rates of nonfatal work-related injuries compared to white women. There are a higher percentage of African American women working in healthcare, which may explain why they experience a high risk of sprains and strains.

Women in construction: occupational health and working conditions
In this study, the medical literature on safety and health hazards for women working in the construction industry is reviewed. Women have a different pattern of fatal injuries and some nonfatal injuries than men. Women also report unique problems and concerns related to working in this industry.

Women working in construction: risks and rewards
While both men and women working in construction face many of the same risks, there are some unique issues that are of greater concern to women. Tradeswomen are more likely than their male counterparts to die in job- related motor vehicle accidents or from job-related homicide and less likely to die from falls. Of women killed by motor vehicles, 30% worked as so-called flaggers.

For additional information about this topic that applies to male and female workers, check out these other NIOSH web pages:

• Occupational Violence
• Traumatic Occupational Injuries
• NIOSH Current Intelligence Bulletin #57: Violence in the Workplace: Risk Factors and Prevention Strategies
• NIOSH Alert: Preventing Homicide in the Workplace