While the likelihood of a workplace shooting is very low, it is still important to be prepared. Training and building a plan for this type of event is vital to protecting the most valuable asset of any business, its employees.
The Importance of Workplace Shooter Training
Run. Hide. Fight. Model
When a workplace shooter occurs, it is important to know what to do to protect yourself and others. Using the Run, Hide, Fight model, individuals can learn to act quickly and efficiently to stay safe in the event of an active shooter incident.
The Run, Hide, Fight model provides three action steps in response to an active shooter situation. It is similar to the ALICE protocol (Alert, Lockdown, Counter, Evacuate) but has a more flexible approach.
If you have a reasonable sense of security and can safely move away from the area of the active shooter, it is best to RUN.
If not, find a hiding place that is out of the attacker’s sight, such as inside a room with locked and barricaded doors. Turn off lights and silence any cellphones or other devices that may make noise.
As a last resort, fight the active shooter. You can use anything you have to disarm or distract the shooter, including a desk chair, fire extinguisher, scissors or any other object you can find in your employee workplace.
The Run, Hide, Fight model offers three action steps that are easily remembered and can help individuals react to a violent attack quickly. It is not only beneficial to those involved in the training, but it can save lives.
Workplace shooter training can include running practice drills that have employees utilize these techniques in a safe and controlled environment.
One of the most important aspects of a successful training program is that it includes a debriefing following each session. This provides an opportunity for employees to discuss the impact of the exercise on their mental health and to make any necessary adjustments.
The debriefing period allows employees to evaluate and improve their response to an active shooter situation. This helps ensure that the exercise is not too stressful and that employees motivated can move on with their lives once the training is complete.
While these drills are often criticized for causing mental health, they have been shown to help employees cope with and manage workplace risks such as violence and crime. Employers must conduct these exercises regularly to help prepare employees and ensure they are prepared to respond effectively to real-life incidents.
Indicators of Potential Violent Behavior
Regardless of what type of work environment an employee works in, certain indicators could be signs that he or she may become the target of a violent act. Fortunately, these indicators can usually be recognized and managed by people who have undergone workplace shooter training for their own safety. The ability to spot these warning signs can save lives.
Indicators of potentially violent behaviour can include,
- Belligerent, intimidating or threatening behaviour by an employee or supervisor
- Talk of past incidents of violence in the workplace
- Expressing feelings of anger and rage without provocation.
When employees display any of these behaviours, they should be monitored and addressed as soon as possible to avoid escalation of the situation or the potential for a violent act; employers can identify and address these indicators through regular surveillance, security surveys, and workplace violence prevention training.
The training should be tailored to each business’s culture and environment. The program should be comprehensive and offer a range of strategies for coping with violence, including emergency procedures, personal safety and self-defence techniques. You can learn more about self-defence by clicking the link.
Action Plan
One of the most important components of workplace shooter training is an action plan. It should outline how employees will be evacuated from the building and the steps they will take to protect themselves and others in the event of an active shooter incident.
An action plan should be updated regularly, and every person in the organization should be familiar with it. It should also list lockdown procedures, evacuation routes and rally points. It should be a collaborative effort between management, security personnel and employees.
The plan should also provide contact information for people responsible for crisis management, internal communications, business continuity and other relevant areas of the organization. It should also include instructions on communicating with first responders and emergency medical services in an active shooter situation.
A trauma-informed approach to safety training can help individuals in the workforce feel prepared for an active shooter situation, increasing their chances of survival and making them more confident in their ability to respond. You can click the link: https://www.apa.org/topics/trauma for more information about trauma.
Although it can be unpleasant to think about, it is important to prepare for incidents of workplace violence through the education and empowerment of your employees.
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