Xerox Cited for Lack of Safety Plan Following Killings

Nov. 30, 2000
The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division cited Xerox\r\nHawaii for failing to implement a safety program after an employee\r\nshot and killed seven co-workers.

The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division cited Xerox Hawaii for failing to implement a safety program after an employee shot and killed seven co-workers in November 1999.

Bryan Uyesugi, a copier technician for Xerox at the time of the murders, was found guilty in June and is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole.

In the worst case of mass murder in Hawaii history, Uyesugi hid a holstered gun under his aloha shirt and opened fire on his co-workers on Nov. 2, 1999.

In 1993, Uyesugi was heard to have threatened employees.

In response, Xerox Hawaii assembled a crisis intervention team made up security, management and a psychiatrist and Uyesugi was offered the choice of voluntarily admitting himself to a hospital or being terminated.

Uyesugi was diagnosed with a delusional disorder and later returned to work.

The company was cited Nov. 1, for two other-than-serious violations under a Hawaii standard requiring employers to have safety programs in place.

No penalties were assessed, according to HIOSHA.

Xerox said it will appeal the HIOSHA citations.

In a statement released earlier, Glenn Sexton, vice president and general manager of Xerox Hawaii said the company was disappointed with the state''s action and "strongly disagrees with the agency''s conclusions."

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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