STRICTLY BUSINESS: WORKPLACE IS NOT IMMUNE TO DRUG USE AND VIOLENCE

It is getting dangerous in the workplace.

The U.S. Labor Department recently revealed some harsh statistics in its Census of Occupational Injuries..

Of the 6,271 on-the-job deaths in 1993, 1,063, or 16.1 percent, were from shootings or stabbings.

Another statistic, from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, show the violent death rate in private industry is 1.71 per 100,000 workers.

The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that almost 1 million violent crimes take place each year in the workplace.

"More than 15 people die in the workplace every week," said Alan Foust, president of Quality Professionalism Integrity (QPI) Security Systems Inc., based in Jackson. "On almost any day someone could walk into a workplace and attack the people who work there."

On that same day, Foust said, if employees at that workplace fit the national average, a fourth of them between the ages of 18 and 40 could test positive for drugs during a random test.

"Fifteen years ago we didn't have to worry about situations like these," he said, adding: "Today, no workplace, large or small, is immune to violence."

Through QPI, Foust, who worked for the Missouri State Patrol 15 years, 10 as an undercover narcotics investigator, now works with employers on a consulting basis. He is available to work with businesses on drug and alcohol programs, violence programs, loss prevention, security training, OSHA compliance audits, asset protection, safety surveys and risk management.

Foust also publishes a newsletter, "The Informer," every 60 days, which he distributes to industries throughout Southeast Missouri, and conducts seminars on drugs and violence in the workplace.

A "Violence in the Workplace" seminar will be conducted at the Holiday Inn in Cape Girardeau June 15, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Drugs and violence are often linked, Foust said. The world is smaller, more stressful and faster-paced than it used to be.

Some people turn to drugs thinking they will help them cope. Foust added that 70 percent of the people who use drugs have jobs.

"They need help," Foust said. "Firing them won't solve the problem. I build a program not from the perspective of getting rid of employees, but with an objective of getting rid of the drugs."

Foust works with supervisors in ways to detect drugs, and how they can help employees with drug problems.

Anger, stress and drug abuse didn't just happen, Foust said. Although drug use flourished in the 1960s, it took another 25 to 30 years to reach the point where 50 million Americans are considered drug users. "It'll take that long to get us out," he said. "But, I think we can beat the drug problems."

Foust said the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in elementary schools is one of the finest program that ever came along, but that it will take another generation for it to take hold.

"We have to work on the drug problems in our home, our businesses and in our schools," he said

Additional information concerning violence and drug abuse in the workplace, and QPI seminars is available by calling 243-0444.

New on the business scene

Coldwell Banker Blanchard & Associates has a new owner and a new name.

Martha Hamilton is new broker-owner of the real estate firm at 1224 N. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau and 2836 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson.

The new name of the company is Coldwell Banker Hamilton Realty.

Hamilton, who has served as president the Cape Girardeau County Board of Realtors, is a past recipient of Realtor Associate of the Year. She has more than 12 years experience in real estate.

"I feel I have the experience necessary to go into broker management ownership," Hamilton said. "The real estate market has been good the past few years, and with interest rates stabilizing, I think we'll see a continuation of that growth."

Hamilton is active in the Missouri Realtor Association, where she serves on the legislative policy political affairs and legal action committee. She has also been named by the National Association of Realtors as federal district coordinator and will be working with Rep. Bill Emerson's office, keeping abreast of national legislation that could affect private property ownership.

She has been a multimillion-dollar producer the past five years.

Hamilton is a member of the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce and League of Women's Voters, where she serves on the board of directors.

Carl Blanchard, previous owner of the company, established the realty firm in Cape Girardeau in 1986. He joined Coldwell Banker in 1988, and opened a Jackson branch in 1991.

Art Blaylock is managing broker at the Jackson office.

Blimpie International Inc., the nation's second-largest submarine-sandwich chain, will open in Cape Girardeau this week, tentatively Wednesday.

Blimpie's, headquartered in New York City, has more than 1,000 restaurants and is opening about one a day in its expansion mode.

The local Blimpie's Subs and Salads franchise is owned by Susan Stanfield and Brad Farrar.

The restaurant, at the intersection of Broadway and Harmony, is located in the structure that previoulsy housed Pete's Pumps.

Owners of the business say the building has been completely remodeled.

Blimpie's will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 10 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.

In addition to subs and salads, Blimpie's will offer four flavors of yogurt and eight flavors of ice cream.

Blimpie is second to Subway in the subway sandwich business. Subway has more than 10,000 restaurants, including two in Cape Girardeau.

Witness Designs has opened at 31B N. Main in downtown Cape Girardeau.

The new business will offer interior designs, home furnishings and accessories, apparel, antiques and other gifts.

Jane Curl, an interior designer, is owner.

The new business offers a number of services, from upholstery to window, wall and floor treatments.

During the "Flood of 1993" Curl designed a T-shirt that included various newspaper headlines from the flood, along with a logo of the American Red Cross. Proceeds from sales of the shirts were used to help in the flood cleanup process.

Curl has also has designed Christian apparel, which appears in more than 85 Christian bookstores.

Atchison Mini-Storage, a 32-unit storage facility, recently opened at 2820 E. Jackson Blvd. in Jackson.

The storage units are available in four sizes -- 10 x 5 feet, 10 x 10 feet, 10 x 15 feet and 10 x 20 feet.

The owner is Walter Atchison

The new units are near Beauty Boutique, which is owned by Florence Atchison.

Additional information concerning the storage units is available by calling 243-2770.