ARTICLE
Workplace Violence

On December 26, 2000, a disgruntled employee, Michael M. McDermott, entered Edgewater Technology's Wakefield, Massachusetts office, armed with 12-gauge shotgun, an AK-47 semi-automatic assault rifle and a semi-automatic handgun. McDermott, angry that his wages were being garnished to satisfy IRS claims, began to fire upon his coworkers, killing seven before ending his massacre.

Workplace violence has become an important safety issue in today's business world. Approximately 2 million American workers are victims of workplace violence each year, and homicide has become the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injury in the United States.

In order to protect your workplace, it is imperative to know who is working for your company. Hire carefully and realistically. Individuals who have committed acts of violence in the workplace consistently have a history of violence, domestic violence, or a criminal record. Likewise, they are commonly addicted to drugs or alcohol.

The United States Office of Personnel Management states that pre-employment screening is an important part of workplace violence prevention. Criminal background checks, reference checks and drug testing are all recommended as preventative steps to prevent workplace violence. InfoMart offers a wide variety of background checks, including federal, county, civil, and statewide criminal searches; a new multi-state criminal search; clinic and onsite drug screening; personal reference checks; and previous employment verifications.

For more information on InfoMart's background screening services, please contact 770-984-2727 or sales@infomart-usa.com.

(Source: OSHA and Boston Globe and Workplace Violence: a Forum on Human Resources' Role in Crisis Preparedness; Chad A. Shultz, Esq.)