Stabbing Statistics on Security Staff: Workplace Violence, Risk Patterns, and Impact [2025 Data]

Note: This article is for educational purpose and may not relate to your country

Stabbing Statistics on Security Staff: Workplace Violence, Risk Patterns, and Impact [2025 Data] Security staff are at high risk for violence, including stabbings, while performing their duties. Recent data from national crime and labor statistics show that about 13% of all on-the-job injuries among security guards are due to physical assaults, with stabbings and other sharp-force incidents being a significant part of that figure. These risks are not limited to any one sector, affecting both public and private security workers across the country.

The available statistics highlight the ongoing threat faced by those working to maintain order in schools, businesses, and public spaces. This blog will present the latest numbers on stabbing incidents, explain the factors that put security staff in harm's way, and outline the broader effects on workplace safety and staff well-being. By grounding the discussion in real data, the aim is to give a clear view of the challenges and help inform prevention efforts.

Overview of Workplace Violence Against Security Staff

Workplace violence is a constant threat for security personnel in both public and private settings. Security staff, positioned on the front lines of conflict prevention and response, encounter more violent incidents than many other professionals. Research shows that this risk sharply sets security workers apart from most workplace groups, placing them among the highest-risk occupations for physical, psychological, and even fatal harm.

Prevalence of Violence in Security Roles

Rates of workplace violence against security staff are documented at national and international levels. In the United States, data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlights that security guards and law enforcement make up about 19% of all workplace homicides, despite being a small fraction of the workforce. Over 57,000 nonfatal workplace violence cases required days away from work in 2021-2022, with security personnel accounting for a significant share, as the statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on workplace violence show.

Globally, rates are consistently high but often underreported, especially in private security. Peer-reviewed studies, such as those published on PubMed, have found that nearly 15% of security guards face physical aggression at least once a month. This rate is higher than those for healthcare workers, teachers, and most retail employees. When compared to workers in other at-risk jobs, security personnel—like police—are among those most likely to experience both minor and severe attacks at work.

These patterns hold true in Europe and Asia as well, where international workplace studies confirm similar risks. Security and law enforcement consistently show incident rates many times the national average for violent injuries and threats.

Types and Sources of Violence

Violence against security staff covers a broad range:

• Physical violence: This includes hitting, pushing, kicking, and stabbing. Stabbings, as a specific subset, often appear in assault records.
• Verbal violence: This involves threats, insults, shouting, and menacing language.
• Psychological violence: Examples include intimidation, stalking, and repeated harassment.
• Sexual violence: Though less reported, sexual assault and harassment occur in both public and private security settings.

Sources of these incidents vary:

• Most assaults come from third parties—members of the public, residents, customers, or clients. For example, research finds that about 80-90% of violent acts in security occur due to interactions with non-employees.
• Co-worker violence is less common but not unheard of.

Studies have shown that:

• Physical assaults make up about 15% of the violence faced by guards monthly
• Verbal and psychological aggression are even higher, ranging from 30% to 40%
• Sexual harassment and assault are most often reported by female security staff but account for a smaller overall proportion

These statistics underscore a stark reality: workplace violence for security staff is more than a background risk. It remains front and center, affecting the safety, well-being, and retention of those in security roles. For more on the variety of threats, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s workplace violence resource offers detailed definitions and prevention tips.

Stabbing and Piercing Incidents: Key Statistics

Stabbings and other sharp-force injuries remain a serious threat for security staff in the workplace. While shootings and blunt-force trauma often grab headlines, injuries from knives and other cutting tools create deep impacts on both personal safety and team morale. Focusing closely on national statistics helps clarify how these risks compare to other forms of violence and where the biggest threats exist for staff on the job.

National Data on Stabbing-Related Injuries

When examining workplace violence, it’s clear that stab and piercing wounds account for a significant portion of injuries reported by security staff. According to data gathered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, sharp objects (including knives and box cutters) are among the leading causes of nonfatal violent injuries for security guards. In recent years, about 7% of all workplace violent injuries requiring time off for recovery in security occupations involved stabbing or piercing mechanisms. In 2022, assaults caused over 57,000 workplace injuries, with stabbings representing a sharp subset of those numbers.

• Proportion of Workplace Homicides: Recent fatality records show that security staff make up a notable share of workplace homicides involving sharp instruments. While shootings remain the top cause, knife-related homicides consistently account for around 10–12% of these incidents yearly.
• Sector and Setting Patterns: Stabbing incidents are more common in public settings—such as shopping centers, public transit, and entertainment venues—than in private office environments. Security roles in urban locations or working night shifts face higher attack rates.
• Trends Over Time: The total number of stabbing and cutting injuries among security professionals has remained stable over the last five years. However, certain event categories, like large public gatherings, show spikes during high-profile incidents or holiday periods.

This data reflects the persistent knife threat faced by security teams in busy, high-contact settings. For more information on workplace assault statistics, see the resources from the National Safety Council.

Comparative Risk: Stabbing Versus Other Forms of Violence

Stabbings are one part of a broader spectrum of workplace violence for security staff. When compared with shootings and blunt-force assaults (using fists, clubs, or other objects), sharp-force incidents rank lower in absolute numbers but still represent a consistent risk.

• Shootings vs. Stabbings: Firearms account for the greatest number of homicides among security personnel, often making up well over 60% of fatal events in this group. Knife and cutting injuries, with their roughly 10–12% share, are the second most common cause of death.
• Physical Assaults: While stabbings are highly dangerous and often life-threatening, guards more often suffer from blunt assaults, such as being punched or struck with thrown objects. However, knife wounds lead to more severe medical outcomes on average.
• Setting Comparison: Public-facing roles, especially at night or in locations with little police presence, increase the risk for both shootings and stabbings. Private, controlled environments (like executive offices or campuses) tend to see fewer sharp-force incidents but may still report occasional assaults.

Based on published national indicators, the relative risk of stabbing increases during crowd control, eviction enforcement, and late-night security duties. Violent event breakdowns from OSHA show that while shootings dominate fatality statistics, stab wounds have not decreased despite advances in security policy. For more in-depth reporting on fatalities by cause, see the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ fatal occupational injuries chart.

Understanding these risk patterns allows for informed prevention efforts, targeted training, and resource investment to protect frontline security staff.

Impacts of Stabbing and Violent Incidents on Security Staff Wellbeing

Stabbing incidents and other violent attacks hit security staff harder than most people realize. The injuries are often more than physical; they ripple through every part of a person's life. When we look closely at the true effects—hospital stays, time off work, emotional scars, and mental health struggles—the toll is impossible to ignore. Many workers return to the job carrying burdens they can’t easily shake. These impacts shape how long people stay in security work, how safe they feel, and whether they can fully recover.

Physical Health Outcomes: Injury Statistics and Medical Impacts

Physical harm from stabbings can be severe and long-lasting. A stab wound often means:

• Hospitalization: Many stabbing victims require emergency surgery and extended hospital stays.
• Lost workdays: Time off is often measured in weeks or months as staff recover from tissue and organ damage.
• Permanent injury or disability: Some never regain full mobility or strength.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and safety experts note that sharp-force injuries, like stabbings, lead to more time away from work than most other assaults. Recovery can involve complex medical care—wound management, physical therapy, and even repeat surgeries. According to the American Hospital Association, the costs don’t end with direct treatment. Follow-up care, medication, and even rehabilitation drive costs and recovery times higher.

Employers also lose productive workdays. Staff shortages, overtime for coworkers, and increased turnover all impact daily operations. For many guards, the road back to work is uncertain, filled with pain or new fears about workplace safety. Some never feel comfortable returning.

For more insights on the scope and burden of violent injuries on healthcare and security settings, the National Institutes of Health highlights increased risks and recovery challenges driven by workplace violence.

Mental and Emotional Health Consequences

The emotional fallout after a stabbing often runs deep. Psychological trauma from these events can be as serious as the physical wounds. Research shows that after violent attacks, security staff:

• Experience anxiety, fear, and hypervigilance at and outside work.
• Report depression, withdrawal from social situations, and low mood.
• Struggle with sleep—frequent nightmares, insomnia, or restlessness at night.

According to findings from Frontiers in Public Health, security guards subjected to workplace violence face a higher risk of somatic symptoms, persistent anxiety, and depressive episodes. These struggles may linger for months or years, sometimes leading to full-blown post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Non-fatal workplace violence can also damage social relationships and make people less likely to stay in their profession. The Workplace Mental Health Institute found that violence-linked anxiety and depression can push skilled guards to quit, reducing work retention and adding stress for those left behind.

The experience of being attacked at work often leaves invisible wounds. Workers may worry about another assault, lose confidence in their employer’s safety measures, or find it hard to trust others. For some, the strain becomes overwhelming, with real risks to their long-term health and even their families' stability. The National Institutes of Health also links ongoing violence exposure with greater odds of lasting mental health issues for security professionals.

Recognizing and addressing these impacts is a key step in protecting security staff and maintaining a skilled, healthy workforce.

Risk Factors and Patterns in Stabbing Incidents

Understanding the risk factors and patterns in stabbing incidents is key to improving safety for security staff. Each work environment brings its own dangers, and attackers share certain traits across many incidents. By looking at where, when, and how these threats happen, we can better protect those on the front line.

High-Risk Environments and Contexts

Security staff face the highest risks of stabbing in settings where emotions can run high and where large groups of people gather. Four environments stand out in the data:

• Hospitals: Security workers in healthcare face unique dangers. Emergency rooms, psychiatric units, and drug treatment areas see a disproportionate number of sharp-force attacks. Visitors or patients may become agitated or disoriented, leading to unpredictable violence.
• Public Events: Concerts, sports games, and festivals often require tight crowd control. Tensions rise quickly in large gatherings, especially with alcohol or drug use. Security teams at these events regularly report assaults with knives or improvised weapons, according to prevention materials by agencies like CISA.
• Corrections: Prisons remain a hot spot for stabbing incidents. Correctional staff encounter homemade blades, or "shanks," often used in fights between inmates or sometimes directly against guards. The typology and prevalence of these improvised weapons are detailed in studies like those from the National Institute of Justice.
• High-Traffic Public Spaces: Places like shopping malls, transit stations, and nightlife districts experience more late-night violence. In these environments, security staff patrol busy entries and exits, handle outbreaks between strangers, and respond to theft attempts—all scenarios with heightened risk for knife attacks.

Patterns reveal that stabbings are more common during evening and overnight shifts, when fewer staff are present and external support can be slower to arrive. Holidays, weekends, and high-profile events add further risk, with spikes in violence observed during these times.

Perpetrator Profiles and Motivations

The profile of individuals who commit stabbing attacks against security staff varies by setting, but several common features appear in research and case reports:

• Backgrounds: Many attackers have previous contact with law enforcement, histories of violent or disruptive behavior, or are under the influence of substances at the time of the attack. In corrections, offenders often have repeat infractions and access to illicit objects that can be turned into weapons, as seen in multiple incidents covered in correctional news reports such as this documented pattern.
• Motivations: Motivations often include:
  • Resistance to authority or detention.
  • Attempts to escape, retaliate, or create diversion during chaotic moments.
  • Mental health crises or episodes of paranoia with sudden aggression toward staff.
  • Personal disputes taken out on staff seen as representatives of rules or control.
• Weapon Choice: Many stabbing incidents involve easily concealed weapons—a pocketknife, box cutter, broken bottle, or in corrections, a handmade blade found on the premises. Research from OSHA and academic reviews suggest that attackers value weapons that can be hidden and quickly used.

The recurring pattern is clear: most assaults stem from direct conflict, surprise, or moments when staff must physically intervene. This makes de-escalation skills and situational training just as critical as protective gear.

By closely analyzing these settings and profiles, security organizations can anticipate where and when risks are highest, then target their policies and staffing to match real-world threats.

Prevention, Policy, and Support Measures

Safeguarding security staff from stabbings and other violent attacks starts with clear policies, effective legislation, and proper workplace planning. Most organizations combine national laws, local policy, and hands-on support systems. Together, these approaches help reduce risks, protect lives, and support those impacted by violence. The following sections explore core prevention strategies now shaping workplaces and security teams.

Legislative Responses and Organizational Protocols

Government action has a direct effect on workplace safety. In recent years, several new laws target the risk of violence against security staff and other frontline workers.

• National Legislation: Laws like the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act require employers to create and follow written violence prevention plans. Though designed for healthcare, these rules set common standards for any workplace where physical assaults are a risk.
• State and Local Efforts: Many states passed fresh rules in 2025 to close gaps in current protections. State legislative updates show stronger reporting demands, more thorough incident reviews, and new requirements for aftercare and paid leave following violent events.
• Zero-Tolerance Policies: Most security employers have clear rules stating violence will not be tolerated. The U.S. Department of Labor's workplace violence policy explains that any threat or injury triggers investigation, reporting, and possible law enforcement action.

Daily operations also rely on clear, practical protocols:

• Incident Reporting: Security staff must know how and when to report violence. Top organizations use online forms, dedicated hotlines, and regular check-ins after every shift.
• Post-Incident Care: Immediate medical attention and counseling should follow any stabbing or violent assault. Paid leave, as recommended by recent legislation, is offered more widely as both a safety net and a tool to reduce long-term harm.
• Regular Reviews: Incident data helps shape future safety decisions. Workplaces with the lowest injury rates often run monthly or quarterly reviews of policies to see what needs updating.

These layers of policy and oversight, backed by law, set the foundation for safer work. They also make support access predictable for security staff when violence does occur.

Training, Environmental Design, and Support Systems

Stopping violence before it escalates requires both prevention and preparation. Many effective workplace strategies now fall into three main groups: hands-on training, safer building design, and ongoing support.

1. Training Programs

Security teams must feel ready for real threats. Sharp-force injuries often happen during high-tension moments. Recent best practices recommend:

• De-escalation Training: Staff learn to spot warning signs, use calm tones, and apply non-violent interventions first. As noted by OSHA, regular drills and scenario-based learning build real-world confidence.
• Personal Safety Skills: Classes focus on defensive movement, recognizing hidden weapons, and cooperating with law enforcement. Refresher courses keep skills sharp.
• Communication Drills: Practicing distress calls and team alerts can speed up response times when every second counts.

2. Environmental and Organizational Design

The spaces where security staff work shape risk. Careful planning can reduce assaults.

• Safe Room Access: Many facilities now include secure areas for staff retreat.
• Visibility: Removing blind spots and improving lighting keeps attackers from hiding weapons.
• Controlled Entry Points: Limiting public access or adding surveillance cuts down opportunities for surprise attacks.
• Alarm Systems: Noise and visual alarms, combined with cameras, speed up incident response.
• The Joint Commission highlights how risk assessments and regular facility upgrades support long-term staff safety.

3. Support and Recovery Systems

The aftermath of violence can linger. Reliable support matters just as much as up-front prevention.

• Access to Counseling: Ongoing trauma therapy or peer support groups help staff process stress and fear.
• Aftercare and Return-to-Work Programs: Structured programs guide staff through recovery. These can include gradual return schedules and extra supervision for those recently attacked.
• Anonymous Reporting: Making it safe for staff to speak out—without fear—raises early warnings if new threats arise.
• According to Everbridge’s violence prevention checklist, clear support systems lower turnover and build trust among frontline teams.

Security staff face unique and persistent risks. Modern prevention uses a mix of strong policy, careful design, and hands-on care to address the realities of violent threats and support the well-being of everyone involved.

Conclusion

The available data reveals the persistent threat of stabbing and sharp-force assaults facing security staff. These attacks remain a leading source of serious workplace injury, with wide-ranging effects on physical health, mental well-being, and staff retention. Patterns identified across sectors show that sharp-force violence is most likely in high-conflict or densely populated settings and can cause extended absence from work.

Effective prevention relies on robust incident tracking, continuous training, and thoughtful workplace design. Institutional commitment, supported by policy and law, is essential for protecting frontline staff and building trust within security teams. By applying accurate data, organizations equip themselves to reduce risks and set higher standards for safety.

Gratitude goes to those who work in these challenging roles. Ongoing attention to both prevention and post-incident support will help move the field toward safer workplaces. Share your thoughts or experiences to keep this important conversation active.