Workplace Violence

When a gunman shot and killed three executives, critically wounded one other and killed himself in a Philadelphia board room on Feb. 12, American workers everywhere were reminded that violence can erupt without warning when business decisions and personal emotions intersect. While Philadelphia police are still investigating the murders, preliminary findings suggest the shooter was unhappy with recent events within the company, Watson International.

“Here we have an extreme case of a business relationship gone bad, which is something that happens every single day, in varying degrees, across the country,” said workplace expert and employment attorney Robin Bond. “The fury and desperation of the shooter in this case is experienced by many when they feel unjustly wronged or betrayed by people they trusted with their livelihood.

“This case raises a number of questions about business loyalty, revenge, and the disturbing realities of workplace violence in any form,” Bond continued. “Organizations have an ongoing responsibility to protect their employees, and to educate and prepare them for the possibility of workplace violence.”

Bond offers these tips for employees and managers seeking to ensure safety in their places of business:
In any dispute, it’s important to first try to resolve the problem through a third party mediator. Another option is to have all sides get their own legal representation so that the personal feelings can be kept out of the discussion and all parties can focus on the business issues at hand.
Whenever you fire someone, have a witness, but in a private place, with positive feelings about the contributions that employee made to the company while they were there. Alert building security and have someone nearby who can react quickly if the situation gets out of hand.
To best avoid liability and to protect employees, have a zero-tolerance workplace violence policy and program with dedicated financial resources and time for training to ensure that all employees know whom to contact in the event of a threat or violent act.
Employees who feel mistreated by coworkers or managers are advised get help outside the company immediately, preferably from an employment lawyer who can give an unbiased opinion on the situation. Keep all relevant documentation, including performance reviews, e-mail correspondence, client feedback and company policy handbooks — this is all evidence that will be reviewed by human resources, an arbitrator, or even a judge and jury.

For additional information, see OSHA’s safety and health topics page on workplace violence at http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/workplaceviolence.

More and more businesses are providing employees with laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and cell phones for speed, convenience and mobility of communication. The benefits can be enormous, particularly for business travelers. So can the security risks, if proper precautions are not taken. Before handing out these high-tech communication tools, the Better Business Bureau advises business to instruct employees how to protect the security of data that is being transmitted or stored. The following guidelines may prove helpful:

• Always keep your laptop, PDA or cell phone within sight, even when at the office.  Lock your business cell phone and PDA in a secure location when not in use.
• Keep your portable device within eyesight and easy reach when traveling. Stealing laptops at airports and from trains and restaurants has become a popular data theft technique.
• If at all possible, do not store any sensitive customer or employee data (such as bank account numbers, ATM codes, Social Security numbers and credit/debit card info) on these portable devices. If any employee (a salesperson or telecommuter, for instance) needs to take customer data, employee date or other sensitive information off business premises on a laptop, CD, flash drive or other portable device, insist and make certain that the data is encrypted.
• Password-protect access to the laptop, DA and cell phone. Also make use of passwords to protect Internet access, e-mail, voicemail and address books.
• Turn off the devices when not in use. Do not download or accept file downloads from unknown sources.
• Do not share portable communication/organization tools with others.
• Backup all data regularly and keep back-up disks and other back-up materials in a locked, secure area.

 A final word of caution from the BBB: Do not assume that laptops are the only devices that can be hacked into. Criminals can hack into cell phones and steal stored files, contacts and voice mails. Viruses can also significantly disrupt cell phones. Cell phone owners should check with their providers regularly for updates on security features to make certain they have configured their settings for maximum security.

Louisiana resident and President of the American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) Donald S. Jones Sr., P.E., CSP, offers the following business resumption safety tips. These include preparation tips, a disaster safety checklist, mold information and resources to assist businesses of all sizes before, during and after a disaster.

“This is important information that helps us throughout the year. We urge everyone to take stock of their existing contingency plans — whether at work or at home — now to reduce injury and destruction should a disaster occur,” Jones said.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution for business resumption following a disaster. Following a disaster, all businesses should do a hazard evaluation and assessment performed by a safety professional which would include the following: (more…)

Did you ever wonder why US DOT (PHMSA) now has a security requirement for the transportation of hazardous materials? 
READ BELOW!!

From Foxnews Dec. 13, 2006

NEW YORK —  Mohammed Yusef Mullawala wanted a license to transport hazardous materials and to learn how to drive commercial tractor trailers. There was nothing unusual about that, until he told his teacher that he only wanted to learn how to drive forward, and he wanted to learn fast.

That was enough to raise a red flag with Darleen Crawford, president of the Nationwide Tractor Trailer Driving School in Smithfield, R.I., where Mullawala took driving classes.

Federal and state authorities are investigating why Mullawala was seeking a commercial trucking license after his behavior raised flags at the Rhode Island driving school. Crawford said he was also insistent on taking the test necessary to earn a license to transport hazardous materials.

Mullawala, a 28-year-old citizen of India who is of Pakistani descent, is now in federal custody in Massachusetts on immigration violation charges.

“We are still digging into his background, digging into where he lived in Rhode Island, New York and New Jersey,” Major Steven O’Donnell with the Rhode Island State Police told FOXNews.com on Wednesday. “A lot of still doesn’t make any sense, why he would be doing what he was doing.” (more…)