September 30, 2009
These NewsBriefs are produced and delivered weekly by
Attainium to keep our friends and clients
current on topics relating to Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and Crisis Management.
From an MSNBC report last week: The killing of Yale student Annie Le has shined a spotlight on the issue
of workplace violence after police arrested a colleague at the lab where she worked and charged him with murder.
As we have said before, OSHA finds that homicide is the fourth-leading cause of work-related deaths in the U.S.;
nearly 1,000 workers are murdered and 1.5 million are assaulted every year. We hope this week's articles will help
you plan for workplace violence incidents and protect your employees and your organization.
Take steps to become better equipped to recognize and respond to workplace violence and protect their employees.
(Item #1)
Do you know the 13 early warning signs of workplace violence?
(Item #2)
Workplace attackers usually don't just explode; if you're attuned to warning signs, perpetrators usually telegraph their motives.
(Item #3)
What do you know about negligent hiring and negligent retiring?
(Item #4)
Reactions to increased tension, stress, and in some instances shock have resulted in a variety of workplace violence incidents.
(Item #5)
Returning to work routines following any violent incident at the workplace can be very challenging.
(Item #6)
Finally, Item #7 is a fact sheet on workplace violence that you can post and/or distribute to employees.
As always, we look forward to hearing about your concerns
with regards to business continuity. If you have a topic
you'd like to see covered, please email me at
[email protected]
Best Regards,
Bob Mellinger
President
Attainium Corp
Quote of the Week
"But sometimes, the people that we work with can be our highest risk.
So it's something we really need to take care of before it blows up in our face."
- Nina Cillo (Crisis Center of Tampa Bay) -
Articles
1. Employers: 6 Ways to Protect Against Workplace Violence
The recent devastating homicide of bright, accomplished, and to-be-wedded Yale graduate student Annie Le
is being termed an act of workplace violence. The incident sheds light on the dark side of workplace safety
and the threat and danger of workplace violence. There are steps employers can take to protect their employees
and safeguard their workplace.
http://blogs.findlaw.com/free_enterprise/2009/09/employers-6-ways-to-protect-against-workplace-violence.html
2. The Unlucky 13 - Early Warning Signs of Potential Violence at Work
National Institute for Prevention of Workplace Violence offers employers a list of warning signs
to look for as signs of workplace violence.
http://www.workplaceviolence911.com/docs/20081024.pdf
3. Workplace violence includes range of behaviors
Workplace violence is in the news now because of the murder of Yale doctoral student Annie Le.
After she went missing just days before her wedding, Le's body was found stuffed behind a wall at
the research lab where she worked. Police arrested a coworker, lab technician Raymond Clark III.
The New Haven police chief, while giving few details, said the murder was an example of "workplace violence."
http://www.freep.com/article/20090922/COL35/909220349/1011/NEWS09/Protect-yourself-from-violence
4. Corporate Liability: Sharing the Blame for Workplace Violence
Negligent hiring and negligent retention are fodder for lawsuits when management fails to screen
the applicants it employs. The difference between the two is in the time the employer becomes aware
that the employee is unfit for the job.
http://www.workviolence.com/articles/corporate_liability.htm
5. Corporate America's Role In Causing Workplace Violence
There are many who would point the finger of blame at the heads of America's business leadership as being
a contributing factor in the issues involving the causes of Workplace Violence or hostile conditions in the workplace.
At the very least, some are fostering the atmosphere in which aggressive behavior develops. In order to understand
the root cause for such a position you need to look beneath the obvious concerns pertaining to re-engineering,
down or right sizing.
http://www.workplaceviolence911.com/docs/20031229.htm
6. Recovery in the Aftermath of Workplace Violence: Guidance for Workers
Returning to work routines following any violent incident at the workplace can be very challenging.
Even after the work area is secured, and victims or perpetrators are no longer present, emotional reactions
and distress may reduce concentration, motivation, and performance. However, there are steps you can take
to reduce the negative impact of your traumatic experience.
http://www.centerforthestudyoftraumaticstress.org/csts_items/CSTS_aftermath_workplace_violence_workers.pdf
7. OSHA Fact Sheet on Workplace Violence
http://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/factsheet-workplace-violence.pdf
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