Terrorism, disgruntled workers, active shooters all big news items. Scary stuff. I am often asked by potential clients what they need to do about these things. My response is this: Do you have a fire drill in your building? Do your employees know where to go in the event a tornado warning is issued for your workplace? These things are drilled into us as kids and we are accustomed to the annual building drill where the orange hats and vests come out and everyone meets in a designated place. It’s a good idea, it can save lives in an emergency but what are the odds of your building catching fire or being hit by a tornado?
Still, we do it because it’s what we are taught and ultimately the responsibility for safety and security in the workplace lies with the employer.
Having a plan for an active shooter in this age is also a good idea. In law enforcement we are taught to prepare, train and have a mindset to anticipate and respond to terrible situations. It’s the planning, preparing and training that get’s you through the situation and allows you to deal with things, and hopefully survive.
You are not going to instill this level of preparedness in a group of non law enforcement people, I’m not sure you should try. Instead, give them the basics, a plan, somewhere to go with concerns before the incident happens and give them enough knowledge to know what to do if the worst case happens. It starts with an assessment of your facility and some simple steps to make the plan. Then, depending on your particular situation and circumstances, a little training and orientation goes a long way.
Just a thought.
Contact us if we can help your company.
