Case Study 4

Preparation Pays Off

A major manufacturing company on the West Coast with over 300,000 employees has over the years been developing a coordinated management plan for dealing with workplace violence.

During the incident, one employee shot his lover and wounded another individual before turning the gun fatally on himself. This incident occurred at a plant where training had recently been received and an action plan developed. Although in this particular case the death and injury probably could not be prevented, at least the planned system for coping with the aftermath worked flawlessly: police were immediately on the scene, next of kin promptly informed, press releases written, the plant closed temporarily, and employees and relatives counseled. Only thorough training and advanced planning could account for the excellent manner in which the aftermath was handled.