Released in September, the study is based on 2006 data - the most recent available - from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and data from workers compensation claims associated with workplace violence.

While workplace homicides garner a great deal of media attention, they account for only 8.7 percent of workplace fatalities in the private sector. Workplace homicide rates were down 25 percent between 2000 and 2006, and were down 61 percent since 1992.

Robberies accounted for 68 percent of workplace homicides in 2006, with shootings playing a role in 80 percent of those deaths. The perpetrators of these crimes were nearly even split between co-workers/former co-workers and customers/clients. Most workplace homicide victims in 2006 were in occupations with direct customer contact and where cash and other valuables are accessible.

The rate of workplace assaults has fluctuated in recent years. The rate dropped 18 percent in 2005 only to rise 10 percent in 2006. Forty percent of workplace assaults take the form of hitting, kicking and punching.

Workers in the healthcare field bear the brunt of these assaults, with nursing home workers being the majority of victims. Other sectors where employees are vuknerable to assault include protective services, transportation-related occupations, retail sales and maintenance and cleaning occupations.

(Source: Source: http://www.shrm.org)