On August 3, 2010, a disgruntled employee of Hartford Distributors, a Connecticut beer distributor, killed eight employees and wounded two others, including the senior vice president for human resources.
Sadly, workplace shootings and assaults are becoming more commonplace. The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data show 156 fatal occupational injuries in the state of Virginia in 2008. Of those 156 fatalities, 37 resulted from violent acts, second only to automobile accidents.
Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act’s general duty clause, employers must provide workers with a reasonably safe and secure workplace. If evidence exists of employer negligence — such as ignoring warning signs and potentially dangerous behavior — an employer could face a litany of legal issues including negligent hiring and negligent retention.
Despite these grim statistics, experts and workplace security specialists say that most violent workplace incidents can be prevented if employers take the appropriate steps.
Here are some specific steps employers can take to avoid workplace violence....
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