During emergencies, at SaferSite, we believe employers and employers must expect the unexpected. Every year, nearly 2 million U.S. workers will become victims of workplace violence.
Workplace violence occurs, and we want you to be prepared. Continue reading to pay tribute to National Preparedness Month by discovering the ways you can save your life and the lives of others at your office.
NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH
National Preparedness Month (NPM), is recognized in September to promote family and community disaster and emergency planning throughout the year.
There have been 150 employee-on-employee killings since 2010.
Workplace violence can be defined as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite. It ranges from threats and verbal abuse to physical assaults or homicide, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
The risks can be prevented or minimized if employers take appropriate precautions, such as establishing a prevention program.
By assessing worksites, employers can identify methods to reduce possible incidents. OSHA believes that a well-written and implemented workplace violence prevention program, leadership actions, and training can aid in the reduction of workplace violence.
WORKPLACE SAFETY
Since 1966, 27 percent of all mass shootings occurred at workplaces.
The OSHA provides information about violence at work and the implementation of policies that protect employees from the threat of disruptive behaviors that occur at the workplace.
In 2018, there have been at least 27 mass shootings involving four or more victims, except for the suspect.
One action you can take to stay safe from violence at your workplace is to be prepared for it. No one wants to endure such a life-threatening and dangerous experience; however, the reality is that these events happen whether you are ready or not. SaferSite intends to provide you and your business with the resources, knowledge, and skills to handle unexpected situations with confidence.
“I think that number one, our people understand and are aware of the threat. I think our employees feel more competent in what to do in the event of an emergency,” said C’Anna Brown, former FBI employee and current business manager at West Virginia Radio Corporation, C’Anna Brown.
Brown discussed her experience with SaferSite about receiving training and a site assessment.
Continuing, Brown said, “I think overall I can’t recommend the training enough. I think they did a fantastic job. I think they were consummate professionals. Business owners and people in leadership positions really need to take a moment to think about the kind of threat training they have provided their employees. No one is immune to threatening situations. Do right by your employee, your assets and equip them with the knowledge of what they need to do if your workplace were under threat.”
BE PREPARED: DEVELOP AN EMERGENCY ACTION PLAN
Approximately 25 percent of companies are unprepared for an active shooter incident.
Rave Mobile Safety provides the leading critical communication and data platform trusted to help save lives. In Rave’s 2018-2019 Workplace Safety and Preparedness Report, 30 percent of respondents said they were unaware or unsure of their employers’ Emergency Preparedness Plans. Higher percentages reported that although Emergency Preparedness Plans existed for severe weather events, medical emergencies, and system outages/cyberattacks, the plans were rarely or never tested.
In nearly half of active shooter incidents, police are unable to respond under 10 minutes. During life-threatening situations, it is up to you to have a plan and respond appropriately during the high-stress incident to save your life and the lives of others. Planning for the unexpected is allows you to come home at the end of the day to your loved ones.
The OSHA believes an effective emergency action plan (EAP) requires top management support and the commitment and involvement of all employees.
Employers should review plans with employees when putting in place and re-evaluate the plan routinely. Additional details of an emergency action plan, include:
- Evacuation plans
- Alarm systems
- Reporting procedures for personnel
- Shutdown procedures
- Types of potential emergencies
- Any unusual hazards, such as flammable materials, toxic chemicals, radioactive sources or water-reactive substances, should be discussed with employees
- Drills should be held at random intervals, at least annually, and should include outside police and fire authorities
At SaferSite, we believe developing an EAP is critical in times during an active threat. An EAP is a written document that is required by OSHA standards. The purpose of an EAP is to organize and facilitate employer and employee actions during workplace emergencies.
Well-developed emergency plans and employee training, like understanding their roles and responsibilities within the program, will result in fewer and fewer employee injuries during emergencies. A poorly-developed plan can lead to a chaotic evacuation or emergency response, which can result in injury, confusion, or property damage.
Creating an EAP and conducting training exercises are the best ways to prepare your employees for an active threat situation. The EAP and training activities will make everyone to respond and help minimize loss of life effectively.
BE PREPARED: WE CAN GUIDE YOU WITH TRAINING
A well thought-out action plan is good, but an EAP combined with proper training is best. The combination of an EAP and training exercises provides the most effective step in the right direction of safety and preparedness in the case of a workplace emergency.
Training exercises can involve:
- Recognizing the sound of gunshots
- Quick and appropriate reactions when shots fire
- Calling 911
- Reacting appropriately when law enforcement arrives
- Adapting a survival mindset during times of crisis
Training must be conducted annually and when employees are hired or when their job changes. Additional training is necessary for the following:
- New equipment, materials or processes are introduced
- The layout or design of the facility changes
- Procedures have been updated or revised
- Exercises show that employee performance is inadequate
Conducting mock active threat training exercises is the most effective way to train your employees to respond to an active threat situation.
According to the OSHA:
“Each employer shall furnish to each of his/her employees, employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his/her employees.”
BENEFITS OF ACTIVE THREAT TRAINING
Active threat training gives your community the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can increase their chances of saving their life, as well as another person.
Active threat training is beneficial in everyday life; it can be utilized at work, home, in a restaurant, or a movie theater. You will gain the ability to share your knowledge with other people.
The creation of an active threat plan developed by an expert team of security and safety professionals will allow everyone to know what to do if an event were to occur. Our experts ensure that your fear decreases while the number of survivors increases.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT AN ACTIVE THREAT TRAINING CLASS WITH OUR EXPERTS
The 90-minute class is designed to educate and empower individuals. We explain how you will “know what to do” when faced with a life-threatening situation. Taught by an SaferSite instructor, the class can be provided anywhere to any business.
We care for our audiences and understand the training process can be intimidating. We take pride in presenting the most progressive training to provide thoughtful teachings for our trainees. The experienced team at ATS wants you to gain relevant knowledge without increasing anxiety.
Essential talking points will be discussed and accurately demonstrated by explaining simple solutions to complex problems. We provide customized training for every individual who chooses to participate.
Below are topics you can expect to be explored in detail during our training. The key points listed provide a brief overview of the information you can expect to learn:
- Critical statistics of active threat events
- Importance of situational awareness
- Different categories of active threats
- Mindset and preparedness of an active shooter
- Difference between cover vs. concealment
- Extra security measures you could be taking
- The Houston Model: Run, Hide and Fight
- How the attacker will respond to any disruptions you cause
- Having a plan when the attack starts, while it is happening and after it has happened
After the presentation, our instructor will go through your building and discuss any concerns you may have about the space and how best to proceed during an attack.
National Preparedness Month
Our experts are the authority on active threat preparedness.
Our team is comprised of current and former law enforcement officers, federal agents, military and Department of Defense instructors. This team has been hand-picked because of their experience and their ability to effectively present.
Develop an EAP and be prepared as best as you can to give yourself and your employees guidance on how to act to ensure safety.
SaferSite equips individuals with the knowledge and skills they need to implement crisis solutions in the workplace. As a result, we help to make you feel safer and more empowered.