Violence in the workplace isn’t pleasant to think about, but it’s important for employers to plan for it. We have advice for building an effective “active threat” plan from security expert Jay Hart.
Hart, director of Force Training Institute, leads a team of first responders, antiterrorism, cybersecurity, defensive tactics, and crisis management specialists with vast cumulative experience and expertise in safety and security. Hart is also a police sergeant for one of the largest municipal police departments in Los Angeles County.
As the national conversation regarding violence in the workplace suggests a heightened awareness stemming from increased media coverage, recent studies suggest there may be statistical evidence supporting this perceived frequency.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 5% of all businesses experience an instance of workplace violence each year. For larger organizations with over 1,000 employees, this rate is increased tenfold to 50%.
A 2014 report from the FBI found active shooter incidents in the United States now occur on an average of once a month. Of these incidents, almost half (45.6%) occurred at a business while nearly a quarter (24.4%) occurred at Pre-K to grade 12 schools and institutions of higher learning.
Although active threats—and the environments where they take place—can vary from incident to incident, the common threads found throughout can be woven together to create the fabric of an effective and successful safety program. The following are lessons learned, gleaned from past experience that businesses can use as tools for building a solid foundation for a safety-minded workplace.
Your one-stop safety management resource, available 24/7. Go here to take a no-cost site tour or here to try it in your own office!
Mindset to Clear the First Hurdle
More often than not, active threat training is the elephant in the room. Everyone has seen or heard of incidents, but is reluctant to take the steps toward mitigation. The reasons may vary from believing it’ll make employees more fearful than empowered, to worrying the training might not be “right” for the team. However, looking the other way is not a solution to any problem, much less one with harmful consequences.
The aforementioned statistics illustrate an increasing probability of an active threat incident, making it less of an “if” and more of a “when.” Unfortunately, violence doesn’t discriminate on where it can take place, so the entire enterprise—be it headquarters, warehouse, or storefront—should be involved in preventive measures.
Breaking through the barrier of apprehension begins with a holistic approach: one team, one goal. Leadership should evaluate the type of training fitting its organization’s culture, articulate the vital importance of such training to employees, and clearly explain how the training will be implemented.
Great news! BLR’s renowned Safety.BLR.com® website now has even more time-saving features. Take our no-cost site tour! Or better yet, try it at no cost or obligation for a full 2 weeks.
Flexible Response Plans
Violence is seldom a cookie-cutter affair, and as such a “one-size-fits-all” response is likely an ineffective solution. Conversely, having too many threat-specific responses can be confusing, if not outright dangerous. While different threats do warrant varying responses, a series of “stovepipe” procedures can cripple a person with tunnel vision during a high-stress scenario.
All active threat response plans should be built on the same principles, so even if the minute details are lost in the heat of the moment, team members can still make informed decisions to ensure the safety of themselves and others.
Use of NCMs demonstrated a materially and financially advantageous effect on both overall medical management and, more particularly, a diminution of disability duration in similar claims. Specifically, “days of disability” were reduced from 316.9 to 85.65 when NCMs were activated from day one. According to study authors, some companies consider it an extra cost, but NCMs have been known to help close workers’ compensation cases at 70 percent of what they would normally cost.
Streamlining processes encourages a quick implementation and retention of information. Knowledge increases confidence, confidence increases decisiveness, and it is decisive action in a critical incident that saves lives.
In tomorrow’s Advisor, we present more from Hart on plans to address active threats.