Times are changing when it comes to workplace safety. It used to be a matter of slips and falls. We needed to be mindful of wearing safety helmets and gears that could trap a limb. Those are still workplace issues. But planning for consequences has stepped up in a significant way. We need to be mindful of much greater dynamics.

Incidents involving active shooters are now part of our vocabulary. These span the spectrum of situations from disgruntled employees, to customers outraged by negative treatment. Spouses and partners who have decided they will no longer tolerate the domestic situation bring their differences to the one place they are certain to find their target. The person fed up with unabated bullying decides to take matters in their own hands because absolutely no satisfactory solution has even been attempted; in some cases the employee is accused of being the catalyst of the situation. And then there is the matter of terrorists who have decided to bring their jihad to whatever public venue will yield a calamitous evidence of their cause.

Needless to say, there will be injuries as well as deaths, in addition to affected people who have non-visible disabilities, that are tolled because of the violence. There will be a need to attend to those after the 20-minute rampage. What needs to occur before the tumult happens in your workplace is developing not only an emergency plan but also training.

Training in Phases

Just as you have drills for earthquakes and fires, so you also need to have drills for practicing what to do in case any other type of emergency occurs. Where should people go when something happens or should they stay where they are? What should be done to attend to the needs of those who have disabilities? Have you evaluated your workers for what they feel would be best for their circumstances and skills once you've created an emergency plan that's ready for review and feedback? The affected population may have insights that haven't occurred to you but are more than obvious to them.

Drills

More than the drills are how to deal with injuries. It could be the run of the mill injury that happens on the factory floor or at a construction site. It may be the result of a power surge that gives an electrical shock to someone. Someone falls or gets cut. What should be done before the EMTs arrive?

First Aid

Consider having your staff go through first aid training. This can be attending to injuries and wounds. It can also include administering CPR; or it could include both. The Red Cross offers both types of classes and people can be certified after completing the training. The local fire department also offers classes. And there are certified, licensed agencies that also offer training in both wound treatment and CPR. Have as many of your staff trained as possible so that anyone can be engaged in performing aid.

Communication

Is there a hostage situation? Perhaps the shooter has hesitated about taking action and is thinking about what to do next. This is a key time to have people who are skilled in negotiation and empathetic communication. This doesn't need to be an executive who talks the assailant out of doing harm. There was the story of the school desk clerk who talked with the shooter, empathized with him, and got him to put aside his weapon as well as wait for law enforcement to arrive so that he could be taken to another place for whatever steps would happen next. That was an extraordinary situation. It isn't recommended for people who don't have the skills and acumen to do this. The desk clerk was probably more successful because both she and the shooter could identify with the other's circumstances. She talked with him about her frustrations and the alternatives she took to overcome them. The genuineness of her conversation is what led to the successful outcome.

But alternative dispute resolution techniques need to be part of your respectful work environment. It needs to be part of your healthy culture.

Remember the Obvious and Not Obvious

But what about those employees who have disabilities? EEOC requires workplace accommodations for them so that they can perform the duties of their jobs. But there's also the matter of attending to their need for a safe work environment and providing as much protection for their welfare and safety as for the rest of the workforce.

Resources:

* Shattered
*
* American Red Cross for AED/CPR Classes
* YMCA
* How to Plan for Workplace Emergencies and Evacuations, U.S. Department of Labor, OSHA 3088 (2001) (Revised)
* Missed warning signs in gov't office shooting (October 30, 2015)