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TO ASSESS YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT’S SUSCEPTIBILITY TO VIOLENCE, CONSIDER THESE QUESTIONS:
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1. HOW SECURE IS YOUR OFFICE?
Are phones easy to use and do they have emergency buttons? Is there a sign-in policy for visitors? What about panic buttons, safe rooms, security guards, office access controls, good lighting, and training in safety for all employees?
2. HOW WELL DOES YOUR EMPLOYER TAKE CARE WHEN HIRING AND FIRING EMPLOYEES?
Do they have pre-hiring procedures that include investigating employment gaps, work history, references, and criminal and educational records? Are termination procedures clearly defined with special consideration toward advance notice, severance pay, and job placement services?
3. DO YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO RECOGNIZE POTENTIALLY VIOLENT EMPLOYEES?
Are there signs of stress that could manifest into violence, including depression, frequent absences, talking in a louder than normal voice, startling easily, irritability, impatience, decreased concentration, or memory lapses?
4. ARE YOU ENCOURAGED TO REPORT UNUSUAL BEHAVIOR?
Are there clear written policies for reporting cases of violence and defined penalties for visitors?
5. IS YOUR WORK ENVIRONMENT SUPPORTIVE, HARMONIOUS, AND BASED ON MUTUAL RESPECT?
Does your employer have an Emergency Action Plan?
RESOURCES
ACTIVE SHOOTER ONLINE TRAINING
This one-hour online course (IS-907 Active Shooter: What You Can Do) provides an introductory lesson on the actions that
may be taken when confronted by an
active shooter, as well as indicators of workplace violence and how to manage the consequences of an incident. To access this course, please visit the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute online training website at http://www.training.fema.gov/is/crslist.aspx and type “Active Shooter” in the search bar.
ACTIVE SHOOTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP SERIES
These scenario-based workshops feature facilitated discussions to inform participants on the best practices associated with preparing for and responding to an active shooter incident.
Through a dynamic exchange of information, these workshops provide participants an understanding of how to plan and aid in the development of an initial draft of an emergency action plan for their organizations. For more information on these workshops, please contact the Active Shooter Preparedness Program at ASworkshop@hq.dhs.gov.
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