PORTLAND — An online training series designed to help workers at small retailers prevent and respond to workplace violence is available from the University of Southern Maine.

The Cutler Institute at USM’s Muskie School of Public Service collaborated with the Maine Small Business Development Centers to create the training sessions. The first two are available at www.mainesbdctraining.org.

Workplace violence is the second leading cause of workplace fatalities in the U.S. overall and the leading cause of death for women, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Workplace violence includes threats and verbal abuse, as well as physical assault.