Research Scientists to Receive Tips to Prevent Lab Violence at Upcoming Audioconference

Press Release from Earth Times

In theory, science research laboratories are always peaceful places, where pure knowledge is being pursued. However, in recent years some tragic episodes of workplace violence have disturbed this tranquility. Principal Investigators have had to become more alert to head off these distressing, though uncommon, possibilities.

Among recent tragedies in the news this past year have been the shootings by a psychiatrist at Ft. Hood, the lab murder of a researcher at Yale, and the mysterious episode of contamination of lab coffee at Harvard. The Pentagon Report on the shooting incident concluded there were numerous warning signs which had been ignored.

The phenomenon of workplace violence, its warning signs and prevention, will be addressed in a national audioconference on February 23rd at 1PM (EST). Special attention will be given to the research laboratory environment, where several types of unusual pressures may aggravate any underlying personality traits of staff who may be, or become, violence prone.

The 60-minute event will be presented live, via telephone hookup, on Tuesday February 23rd at 1PM (EST). The total content, plus all handouts, will also be available for purchase afterwards via MP3, CD audio, and PDF transcript.

The speaker will be Melissa Fleischer, Esq. Besides being an employment law attorney, she established HR Learning Center LLC, and is a frequent lecturer on workplace violence prevention training. She believes that training your workforce on how to recognize the warning signs of workplace violence, and how to prepare for any flare-ups, can help head off or cushion its impact in your research laboratory. However, most scientists have had little if any specific training on any aspect of these subjects. Thus, this audioconference is both needed and timely.

At each location, many may listen at no extra charge by placing the call on a speakerphone.