Philadelphia Area Employers Get Tips For Averting Workplace Violence

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A seminar for human resources and security officials on how to prevent workplace violence took place today at the National Constitution Center.

This issue strikes close to home for employers in the Philadelphia area after the recent Kraft Foods shooting spree in which two women were shot to death, allegedly by a fellow employee who thought colleagues were harassing her.

District attorney Seth Williams and deputy police commissioner Richard Ross addressed the group, and Rich Cordivari, vice-president of hosting organization Allied Barton Security (above), discussed formulating a comprehensive emergency response plan:

"As Commissioner Ross said, to go to a building where there is an active shooter incident in progress not knowing what you are walking into is one thing.  To have bad information -- a group, a security force, or a facilities management group that hasn't thought through the what-ifs around an active shooter workplace violence event -- compounds it."

Williams says those in management in the private sector can set the tone for successful cooperation:

"Employers need to have a protocol so employees can know what they can do to report when someone is abusing them, making fun of them."

Reported by Michelle Durham, KYW Newsradio.
Photo by Michelle Durham