Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1995                   TAG: 9510250056
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: NEW YORK                                LENGTH: Short

RISE IN VIOLENCE AT WORK REPORTED

Violence is prevalent in the workplace, but many U.S. companies are taking precautions, according to a survey released Tuesday.

The International Facility Management Association found that more than 43 percent of those surveyed reported violent incidents at their companies in the last three years, including bomb threats, fights and employees who carried weapons to work.

The incidents were attributed to such factors as inadequate screening, subpar training programs, substance abuse, and poor communication between employees and management.

But the survey found that 90 percent of respondents said that their companies had on-site assistance programs to help employees through difficult situations.

In addition, more than two in 10 organizations provide training related to violence for both managers and employees. Fifty-four percent of the respondents said their company has a process in place for employees to follow if they suspect a co-worker of potentially violent behavior.

The survey was sent randomly to 3,000 human resource and security managers and is based on 395 responses, or 13 percent of that group. The survey was conducted by the University of Southern California's Center for Crisis Management, with the financial support of IFMA and PepsiCo.

The Houston-based IFMA is a professional association with 14,000 members in the United States and Canada.

- Associated Press