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| Shooter Told Police He Wanted Respect |
In January 2007, a man shot four of his co-workers, including a manager, at a manufacturing plant in Indianapolis, IN. He reportedly later told police the incident was about “respect.”
Jason Burnam, then 24, was arrested inside a cafeteria at Crossroads Industrial Services following the shootings, none of which caused life-threatening injuries. Burnam, who was on medication for depression, had reportedly told family prior to the shooting that he had been teased and harassed by co-workers about his weight.
12 Red Flag Indicators of Potential Violence
While anything can cause workers to snap, the trigger often can be an emotional event, such as a spouse walking out on them or the worker getting overlooked for a promotion. Or being bullied.
Here are 12 warning signs that a worker could be capable of committing a violent act against bosses or co-workers:
1. Making overt or veiled threats against others
2. Showing aggressive, belligerent, intimidating or harassing behavior toward others
3. Frequent conflict with supervisors and co-workers
4. Bringing a weapon to work
5. Showing a fascination with weapons and acts of violence
6. Making statements indicating thoughts of suicide
7. Drug or alcohol abuse
8. Increased absenteeism
9. Mood swings
10. Deteriorating hygiene
11. A slip in job performance
12. Extreme changes in behavior
And keep in mind that, as indicated in the Burnam incident, it’s not only the person showing aggressive behavior toward other workers who’s at risk of violently exploding. The person who’s being harassed is equally capable of “losing it” and retaliating against a workplace bully.
Share this information with your workers to help defuse any situations before they get out of hand. Tell them it is their duty to report any fears or concerns to you.
Physical violence, harassment and bullying don’t always lead to fatal or serious injury, of course. But these incidents all have serious consequences. They affect the safety and security of every worker. The emotional trauma and physical injury experienced by the victims, their families and co-workers extract a high personal cost—and impact companies’ bottom lines. Address the topic of workplace violence with your employees this week with this Safety Talk.
Need access to additional resources on this topic? Try SafetySmart today and get immediate access to safety talks, presentations and more. Sign up for a free 14-day trial now. |
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| Here’s a thought-provoking sign of the times. Enough said. (Photo source unknown) |
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| DISCIPLINE: 5 Performance Review Traps to Avoid |
Performance reviews don’t simply provide workers with the feedback they need to do their job better; they protect your company from liability by documenting decisions to terminate workers on the basis of poor performance.
At least that’s the theory. In actual lawsuits, the performance review often works to the worker’s advantage. Here’s why and how to ensure that your workers don’t use their performance reviews as Exhibit A in a wrongful dismissal case against your company.
Read more on this topic at OHS Insider.com.
(Note: subscription is required; to get instant access , simply sign up for a No-Obligation Trial of OHSInsider.com. Sign up now and you will be entered into a drawing to win an iPad!)
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| Police Kill Gunman Who Opened Fire on Co-workers at Safety Meeting |
Following a huge manhunt, police have shot and killed a 47-year-old California man who, one day earlier, had opened fire on his co-workers at a company safety meeting, killing three and injuring seven others.
Fifteen men employed at the Lehigh Hanson’s Permanente Cement Plant in Cupertino, CA, had gathered in a trailer for the pre-dawn meeting when their co-worker, Shareef Allman, pulled out a .40-caliber handgun and began shooting them.
Allman left the murder scene in a car and was shot dead the next day by Santa Clara County Sheriff’s deputies at a home in Sunnyvale, CA.
A survivor of the shooting told a Mercury News reporter that Allman was upset at being repeatedly accused of driving recklessly in a quarry.
Friends and neighbors described Allman, who was a single parent, as a peaceful, church-going man who mentored troubled youth and campaigned for peace.
“This in not the Shareef that we know,” said Rev. Jethroe Moore II, who heads the Silicon Valley NAACP.
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Related story: Hospital Cited for Inadequate Workplace Violence Safeguards
(Note: Subscription is required. To get instant access, simply sign up for a No-Cost Trial of Safe Supervisor.) |
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| Due Diligence: Defining, Establishing & Demonstrating Your Record of Compliance |
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