There’s an unfortunate trend building in the U.S. as the number of workplace homicides is on the rise.
Workplace murders rose by 2% in 2015 from the year prior to 417 people killed, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics – and shootings in particular jumped by 15%.
The issue employers are faced with is that despite all of their efforts to protect their workers from industrial injuries, stopping a murder is not a normal part of their risk management process.
Besides the threat to your employees and customers, companies that do not take threatening behavior seriously may also end up being sued for negligence by the families of victims.
For every person killed in a workplace homicide, there are thousands more who have been victims of some other type of workplace violence. OSHA estimates that more than 2 million Americans are victims of such violence every year.
There are certain factors that may contribute to an increased level of risk for workplace violence, including:
• Working at night.
• Working in an area with a high crime rate.
• Working in an establishment where alcohol is served.
• Working in a health care establishment or a facility that treats individuals with mental problems.
• Working in a facility that handles money.
However, those factors don’t always come into play. Other issues include:
• A worker who feels sidelined or abused may snap and go on a rampage.
• An employee’s personal dispute outside of work can result in another party entering the workplace to exact revenge.
• A fired worker returns to their workplace with a weapon with intent to kill.
What you can do
OSHA recommends that you:
• Put in place a zero-tolerance policy towards workplace violence against or by employees.
• Establish a workplace violence prevention program that includes investigating and addressing workplace violence promptly.
• Establish an emergency action plan.
• Teach employees how to recognize, avoid and diffuse potentially violent situations by hosting a personal safety training program.
• Alert supervisors to any concerns about safety or security and urge all employees to report all incidents immediately.
• Educate employees on what conduct is not acceptable and what to do if they witness or are the victim of workplace violence.
• Install video surveillance and alarm systems and minimize access by outsiders through ID badges, electronic keys or guards.
• If you are a retailer handling cash, provide drop safes to limit the amount of cash on hand.
• If employees have to walk into or leave your facility at night, set up a buddy system so that they can be escorted.
Teach your employees how to respond
Security experts recommend:
• Don’t hide under your desk.
• If an employee sees a threat developing, they should inform all of their co-workers and try to escape the facility. Employees should not wait for others to follow.
• Employees should not try to gather their possessions before leaving. The point is to get out of harm’s way quickly.
• Employees should run if they have a clear path to exit the facility.
• If no clear path out of the building exists, they should find a safe place like a room that they can lock from the inside. If there is no lock, block the door with furniture to make it difficult to open.
• If they find a safe place to hide, they should turn the ringer off on their phone.
• If law enforcement officers are outside, employees should show they are not armed and follow their instructions.
• If there is no escape, try to distract the assailant by throwing things at them or using something in the workplace as a weapon.
Knowing what to do in the event of an active shooter could save lives. And choosing the right method of communication is just as important. Forming a committee to garner insights and ideas to formulate a relevant and best practice for your organization would be a great starting point.
Eileen has practiced HR for over 30 years and has served in both large companies and boutique companies, including Disney, Hasbro, and Umpqua Bank. She currently serves on the board of directors for the EDD/EAC as well as the NCHRA. A Bay Area native, Eileen enjoys visiting Lake Tahoe, reading, and spending time with her family.