Hundreds Gather To Learn About Workplace Safety
LOWELL (CBS) - Middlesex Community College teamed up with the Middlesex District Attorney's office for their annual conference on workplace safety. The event drew a bigger crow than usual, given the recent terror attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California.
The hundreds of business people gathered in Lowell for the conference watched news clips of a number of clear cut workplace violence.
District Attorney Marian Ryan told the crowd that workplace violence isn't always on a grand scale like the mass shootings in San Bernardino. It's also about smaller incidents involving bullying and threats among coworkers, among other things.
"Domestic violence that may follow an employee; a person who is legitimately there or a patient or customer who becomes dissatisfied and reacts in a completely inappropriate way. Also employee on employee situations, things like overtime and extra hours," were among the examples she listed.
Ryan reiterated to employers how important it is that workers feel comfortable reporting threats or abuse to their bosses. She said that, while there is no way to prevent workplace violence, having a concrete emergency plan in place can make the situation less dangerous.