title: Application and implementation of the hazard risk matrix to identify hospital workplaces at risk for violence.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A key barrier to preventing workplace violence injury is the lack of methodology for prioritizing the allocation of limited prevention resources. The hazard risk matrix was used to categorize the probability and severity of violence in hospitals to enable prioritization of units for safety intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  Probability of violence was based on violence incidence rates; severity was based on lost time management claims for violence-related injuries. Cells of the hazard risk matrix were populated with hospital units categorized as low, medium, or high probability and severity. Hospital stakeholders reviewed the matrix after categorization to address the possible confounding of underreporting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-one hospital units were categorized as medium or high on both severity and probability and were prioritized for forthcoming interventions. Probability and severity were highest in psychiatric care units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This risk analysis tool may be useful for hospital administrators in prioritizing units for violence injury prevention efforts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Judith E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Arnetz
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hamblin
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ager
authors.forename: Deanna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aranyos
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Upfal
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luborsky
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Lynnette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Essenmacher
mesh_terms: D006757:Hospital Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011336:Probability; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017132:Workplace; D064450:Workplace Violence / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: hazard risk matrix; health care workers; injury; risk assessment; workplace violence