More than a quarter of a million Britons get assaulted at work every year.

And one in four Americans say their daily grind makes them "chronically angry".

With workplaces getting ever more hi-tech, have they in effect become battlegrounds?

It seems as though workers, many of whom are already harried by angry customers or bullying bosses, are also bearing the brunt of aggressive behaviour from stressed-out colleagues.

There have also been reports that MPs are to be offered help in defusing workplace aggression.

Everything from impending deadlines to increased job insecurity can ratchet up the emotional pitch in the office or on the shopfloor - escalating minor tiffs into violent confrontations.

Workmates can even fall out over faulty computers. A survey of 250 PC users across Britain found IT glitches turned offices into "cauldrons of tension and repressed aggression".

But if a colleague's temper snaps, there is little that can be done except dive for cover, says aggression expert Ivan Tyrrell.

"As a person's anger, their emotional arousal, rises, their intelligence falls. Angry people are stupid," says Mr Tyrrell, whose company MindField runs courses on workplace violence.

"It's pointless trying to reason with an angry person. Anger is a primitive, animal response. It's best just to back off."

Speak gently and take the stick?

Though the US Society for Human Resource Management advises those faced with an angry colleague to speak gently, Mr Tyrrell says this may not be the most effective strategy.

"If someone's getting loud and angry lowering your voice and being calm is counterproductive. Raise you voice to match their anger and tone, while empathising with their complaint if it is justifiable."

It seems merely being calm and conciliatory is not enough to appease an enraged person. The feeling they are being fobbed off may even increase their anger.

"People become aggressive and angry when they feel their needs are not being met. Raising your voice to the their level may make them feel they're at least being heard," says Mr Tyrrell.

Standing up to anger

If the angry person is standing, it may also be wise to get to your feet, says Mr Tyrrell.

"But only make gentle, appeasing motions. Anger is part of our primitive 'fight or flight' response to danger. Sudden movements, even quite innocent ones, can be interpreted as an attack by the angry brain."

The only sure way to avoid a confrontation becoming violent is to retreat from it.

Some experts even advocate a spot of acting to get out of an increasingly sticky situation. If you feel trapped by an aggressor, pretending to vomit can throw them off balance and give you time to escape.

Once safely away from a workplace fracas, do not return.

Mr Tyrrell suggests a "cooling off" period of at least 20 minutes. This will give your colleague time to calm down, but also give you an opportunity regain your senses.

"The terrible thing about anger is that it can be so contagious."