Occupational Health and Safety Risks Faced by Police Officers

Abstract

Police officers face a range of risks at work: homicide, assaults, communicable diseases, injuries during car crashes and regular abuse. The risks vary according to the task being undertaken (for example, whether performing traffic duties, attending street disturbances, arresting offenders, guarding prisoners in watchhouses or in hospital, or transporting offenders to court). This paper is based on a comprehensive international literature review of police occupational health and safety, and identifies key risk factors. A subsequent Trends and Issues paper (number 197) focuses on prevention strategies. Adam Graycar Director Police have a high-risk job compared to many others (see Driscoll et al. 1999; NOHSC 1999). About one officer per year is killed in Australia, many are assaulted, and others contract a range of illnesses from work. The dangers are not just physical. The daily combat of United States police officers has been compared with warfare: The police officer is expected to be combat-ready at all times... [facing] a continual sense of danger from an unknown enemy.. .While the Vietnam veteran was at war for a minimum of nine months, police officers alternate between the violence of the street (e.g., shootings, witnessing death and mutilation, dealing with abused children) and the normalcy of civilian life on a daily basis. (Violanti 1999a, p. 5) The Risk of Death and Homicide Homicide is more common for United States officers doing undercover work, making arrests, conducting drug raids, attending domestic disputes or pursuing speeding motorists (Clarke & Zak 1999; Knight 1999; Flannery 1996). Among such homicides there are three common features: * most killers have a personality disorder; * victim officers tend to be good natured and use physical force as a last resort; and * homicides often follow lapses in established procedures for arrest, traffic stops or waiting for back-up (Builta & Ward 1995; McDonald 1995; FBI 1992; UCRS 1992). A few officers in the United States have been killed off-duty, most commonly after intervening in robberies, or when on-duty police mistook them for gang members (Davis & Pinizzotto 1996). Some died through unintentional firearm discharges, typically when officers ignored firearms safety rules while unloading and disassembling weapons (Button 1999). However, since police homicides have remained relatively constant in a time of increased availability of fireams and illicit drugs, it seems that body armour, medical technology and training strategies are keeping pace with the threats (Graham 1996; Builta & Ward 1995). In Australia, about one officer per year is murdered (Driscoll et al. 1999; Estreich 1999; CJC 1996; Swanton & Walker 1989). Webster (1999) recorded 187 officer homicides in Australia since 18305 most through shooting (114), spearing (24; although none since 1933) and stabbing (12). Two notable incidents were the bombing of the National Crime Authority office in Adelaide in 1994 and the 1989 shooting of Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester (anon 1995; Webster 1999). Police vehicle crashes result in more deaths. Particular risk factors when driving include darkness, reduced peripheral vision when speeding, changing effects from high to low beam, emotional consequences from adrenalin rushes, and speeding on unfamilar roads and in inclement weather (Payne & Fenske 1997; Swanton & Walker 1989; Swanton 1987). A few officers commit suicide (see discussion below). The Risk of Assault The number of assaults far exceeds fatalities and is probably increasing over time (Builta & Ward 1995). In the United Kingdom, up to 14 per cent of officers are assaulted each year, most commonly constables or sergeants (Budd 1999; Brown 1994; Mayhew, Elliot & Dowds 1989). One study found assaults in the United Kingdom usually occurred during public disorder incidents (22%), disputes (21%), traffic stops (17%), foot patrols (10%), catching criminals redhanded (10%), searching premises or arresting suspects (7%), or dealing with prisoners (6%) (Brown 1994, pp. …