"In a span of two minutes, a gun wielding...."

Aluminium Plant Safety Blog has a recent story that illustrates that the aluminium industry is not immune to workplace violence. Workplace violence is violence or the threat of violence against workers. It can occur at or outside the workplace and can range from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults and homicide. However it manifests itself, workplace violence is a growing concern. 

Even though there may have been no physical injuries in the following incident, there maybe mental trauma to the workers in this incident. Thus APSB has chosen not to name the company nor the location. Here is the story :

In a span of two minutes, a gun wielding man allegedly walked into his Northeast United States foundry, ordered his co-workers out and then fled before police arrived.

The worker, didn't verbally threaten the workers at the foundry when he entered the foundry at 11 PM during the week of May 23, 2013. But seeing him carrying an assault rifle and a handgun frightened them, township police chief said.

At 11:17 PM the worker was seen on security camera footage fleeing the seen, setting off a 12-hour manhunt during which police searched surrounding municipalities for a gold Hyundai that the suspect was seen driving.

The suspect surrendered to authorties the following afternoon and was questioned by police. He was arraigned by video on charges of risking a catastrophe, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct before a local district judge. The suspect is being held in the county jail in lieu of $100,000 USD bail.

At some point on Wednesday, the suspect was notified by his employer that he was being suspended from work for three days for "violations of work performance," police said in an affidavit of probable cause. "At the time of his suspension, he was aggravated and left the business," wrote a police officer in the affidavit.

Police are investigating why the suspect visited the business Wednesday while a handful of employees were at the foundry. A foundry official did not return a message seeking comment.

The suspect allegedly walked through the loading dock, carrying an AK-47 in his hands and a handgun in his pocket, "and he told the people within that business to get out," the police chief said.

While police were interviewing witnesses after the incident  smoke began pouring from the building. The police chief said investigators believe the smoke was a result of a machine overheating after employees were ordered to leave. 

After the suspect fled, police believe he spent time in two nearby towns, "just kinda laying low," the police chief said.

"He placed the guns in a storage locker in a nearby town someplace," said the police chief.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for the first week of June before a local judge. 

There are a multitude of resources about identifying the signs of potential workplace violence, as well as prevention. If you would like further information, please contact the APSB, we'd be glad to assist you.

Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has some useful information on workplace violence here. 

The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention information on occupational violence can be viewed here.

The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) information about work related violence can be viewed here.

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