A study of the effectiveness of a workplace violence intervention for small retail and service establishments.
OBJECTIVE
Examine the effectiveness of a robbery and violence prevention program in small businesses in Los Angeles.


METHODS
Gas/convenience, liquor and grocery stores, bars/restaurants, and motels were enrolled between 1997 and 2000. Intervention businesses (n = 305) were provided training, program implementation materials, and recommendations for a comprehensive security program. Control businesses (n = 96) received neither training nor program materials.


RESULTS
Rate ratios comparing intervention to control businesses were 0.90 for violent crime (95% confidence limits [CL] = 0.53, 1.53) and 0.81 for robbery (95% CL = 0.38, 1.73). The reduction in violent crime was concentrated in high-compliance intervention businesses (risk ratio = 0.74, 95% CL = 0.40, 1.36). Low-compliance intervention businesses had practically the same postintervention crime as the control businesses.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the workplace violence intervention may reduce violent crime among high-risk businesses, especially those with high program compliance.
Casteel
Carri
C
Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7505, USA. ccasteel@email.unc.edu
Peek-Asa
Corinne
C
Greenland
Sander
S
Chu
Lawrence D
LD
Kraus
Jess F
JF
D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D015141:Los Angeles; D016272:Occupational Health; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D012147:Restaurants; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*; D012637:Security Measures; D014754:Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology*