b'YOUR TOOLKIT FOR BUILDING EXCELLENCEviolence is incalculable. Too, businesses can be heldthese events begin with a grievance on the part of liable for injuries. The employer has an obligationan employee or customer or other individual, said under the General Duty Clause of the OSHA Act toSherman. I am using the term grievance in the most provide a safe workplace, said Pascal Benyamini,general sense, as anything somebody is upset about. a partner at the law firm Faegre Drinker. OSHAThats why its so important for employers to respond and other government entities can assess fines andto employees issues, concerns, and problems when penalties to an employer for not having provided one. they arise.Employers can also incur financial losses fromBehaviors outside the workplace can also be red flags. workers compensation claims and lawsuits byOften, someone will post things to social media that injured employees or customers, or by the next ofcould be important in assessing that they pose a threat kin or family of an employee who has been killed.to the workplace, said K. Campbell, principal at Blue Litigation can be expensive, said Benyamini. AndGlacier Security and Intelligence. These may include if a case gets in front of a jury that determines thestatements about fellow employees, supervisors, employer looked the other way when there wereor managers. That is an example of leakage, the warning signs of a pending violent act, a companydisclosure of ill intent to a third person rather than can get hit with punitive damages. to the individual who might be the intended victim Clearly, businesses would be wise to take action toof an assault. Leakage is usually an extremely reliable mitigate risk when the warning signs of a pendingindicator of potential violence. violent act first appear. Those signs often take theThe above behaviors are not an exclusive list. Experts form of behavioral changes that begin far in advanceadvise taking action anytime your gut instinct tells of a serious incident. The company mentioned inyou something is not right. You dont want to the opening paragraph of this article, for example,continued on page: 12had received prior warnings of the employees threats toward colleagues. The pathway to violence is typically a gradual one, said Bonczyk. An individual may begin by coming in to work late every day. That may proceed to snappingINat coworkers or customers. Then they may beginC.bullying people. Later their performance takes a dive. Then things accelerate to threats of violence, and thenGlue Laminated ultimately violence. Posts Many early warning signs are considered acts of violence in themselves by OSHA. These include verbal or written threats, harassment, and intimidation. Violence can take the form of bullying, as well as swearing and hurling of insults. Supervisors should watch for:*Unexpected and unwelcome behavioral changes. The person may become quick to anger or engage in continuing confrontations. Time-tested in-ground preservative *Talk of suicide or self-harm. performance designed to last.*Paranoia, and a tendency to blame others for theirTreatment applied prior to gluing for maximum penetration and protection.troubles. Waterproof, structural glue stronger than *Obsession with weapons, when accompanied by anythe wood itself.of the other behaviors listed above. 717.866.6581Individuals planning violent acts may become fixated on perceived occupational slights. Very oftenwww.rigidply.com701 E. Linden Street, Richland PA 17087 FRAME BUILDER - VOL5 3 / 11'