A recent article by Renata Elias, Consultant, Marsh Risk Consulting Strategic Risk Practice, contains good information about preparing and responding to an active shooter in your business location. Certainly the mass casualty shooting in Las Vegas has caught our attention and potentially started the conversation about planning for this type of incident. Ms. Elias’ posting begins below.
From 2000 through the first half of 2016, more than 600 people were killed in 213 active shooter events identified by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.These attacks have affected organizations of all types, including schools, retailers, health care organizations, manufacturers, entertainment venues and arenas, and hospitality businesses.
Here are three ways that your organization can prepare for an active shooter event and be ready to protect and aid employees, customers, and guests, manage critical business functions, and quickly return to normal operations.
Every organization should establish a policy to reduce the risk of workplace violence and impacts from active shooter events. This policy should:
Security, crisis communications, emergency response (including active shooter), humanitarian assistance, and crisis management plans should align with your workplace violence prevention plan. They should be similarly updated and reinforced regularly.
The primary focus during and after a violent event should be on employees, customers, and guests. Your organization should be prepared to:
In a crisis, communication will be essential but could be hampered by misinformation, panic, and other factors — especially in public or event spaces. Develop a clear protocol for response team members to communicate during and after an attack with each other, employees, customers, guests, security, law enforcement, corporate headquarters, and other stakeholders.
After addressing immediate life safety and investigative concerns, focus should shift to maintaining operations. That includes accounting for:
Active shooter events and other forms of violence can strike anywhere and anytime, and unfortunately, they often arise without warning. Businesses cannot fully eliminate these threats, but you can act now that may reduce the risk to your organization, better protect its people, and hasten its recovery.
We’re sharing this information to provide you with some ideas to manage violence in the workplace. When you have questions about your insurance coverage or needs, please contact us.
Dean& Draper is a Trusted Choice insurance agency representing over 200 insurance companies. For over 35 years we have offered a trusted freedom of choice to our clients. ContactUs.
The recommendation(s), advice and contents of this material are provided for informational purposes only and do not purport to address every possible legal obligation, hazard, code violation, loss potential or exception to good practice. Dean & Draper Insurance Agency specifically disclaims any warranty or representation that acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein will make any premises, property or operation safe or in compliance with any law or regulation. Under no circumstances should this material or your acceptance of any recommendations or advice contained herein be construed as establishing the existence or availability of any insurance coverage with Dean & Draper Insurance Agency. By providing this information to you, Dean & Draper Insurance Agency does not assume (and specifically disclaims) any duty, undertaking or responsibility to you. The decision to accept or implement any recommendation(s) or advice contained in this material must be made by you.
©2017 Dean & Draper Insurance Agency All Rights Reserved.