Workplace Violence

1. Workplace Violence Presented by: “Your” County Emergency Management Agency

2. Purpose • To discuss the situation • To share survival concepts • To partner to improve emergency planning

3. A New Reality “The reality of the situation is – it’s a sad reality, but it’s reality – there are no sanctuaries anymore. We’ve seen this happen in schools, in malls, playgrounds, parks, churches. No place is safe anymore.” Karl Kick, Washington Post

4. The purpose of the County Emergency Management Agency is to provide coordination and integration of all activities necessary to build, sustain, and improve the county’s capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against, threatened or actual natural disasters, acts of terrorism, or other manmade disasters.

5. Shootings are happening in the workplace The situation

6. No Place Immune • Homes • Streets • Businesses • Playgrounds • Restaurants • Schools • Churches • Nursing Homes • Malls • Courthouses

7. Department of Labor Statistics • In 2007 • 5,657 Workplace Fatalities • 864 Assault or Violent Acts • 628 Homicides • 503 Shootings • 45 Stabbings • 251 Self Inflicted

8. Oklahoma (1986) • Part-time letter carrier • Reprimanded the day before for delivering mail late and other delivery errors. • 14 Killed, 6 wounded • Used two .45 caliber handguns

9. Alabama • Tenure Issue • Biology Dept. meeting • 12-13 people present • Killed 3 • Wounded 3 • Borrowed 9 mm

10. Georgia • Day trader upset over trading loss of $105,000 • Killed wife and 2 children with a hammer • Went to 2 different trading firms • 9 killed, 13 wounded • Armed with 3 pistols and 1 revolver

11. Illinois • Former employee fired for poor attendance • .380 handgun • Killed 6 former co-workers before being shot to death by police • 12 previous arrests, including Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault

12. Massachusetts • Custodian • Shot and killed machine operator • Argument started inside and moved outside

13. New York • Barricaded door • Wore body armor • Armed with 2 handguns • Bag of ammo around his neck • Everyone suffered gunshot wounds • Fired 99 shots • Killed 14 and himself

14. North Carolina • Nursing Home • Kills 7 patients and 1 nurse • Estranged wife worked at nursing home • Shooting stopped after Stewart was wounded by police

15. Texas

16. Hawaii • Did not want to learn how to service a new copy machine • Armed with 9mm handgun • 7 co-workers killed before surrendering • History of threatening behavior and criminal arrests

17. Columbus Ohio Custodian Armed with 2 handguns • Killed supervisor • Shot another boss • Killed himself • Probationary employee • Work, Personal, Financial issues

18. Ohio State UniversityMarch 9, 2010

19. Former Employer • Supervised Brown for two years • Had issues • Tangled with co-workers • Threatened that he would “cut” someone he didn’t agree with • People quit because they couldn’t work under him • “I wrote him up for it and he went off on me.” Columbus Dispatch 3/10/10

20. Toledo Ohio

21. West Chester Ohio • Trucking Company • Armed with 2 handguns • 2 killed, 3 injured • Arrested at truck stop

22. Andover Ohio • Andover Industries • Kills co-worker / himself • Denied vacation • Recent cancer diagnosis

23. Is there a Profile? Red Flags and Possible indicators

24. Red FlagsThe National Center for Victims of Violent Crime • Obsession with weapons • Direct or veiled threats • Intimidating / instilling fear in others • Obsession with one’s job • Little involvement with co-workers • Displaying unwanted romantic interest in a co-worker • Holding a grudge • Exhibiting paranoid behavior • Unable to accept criticism • Recent family, financial, academic, social, legal, or other personal problems • Interest in recently publicized violent acts • Testing the limits of acceptable behavior… extreme changes

25. Indicators of Potential ViolenceDepartment of Homeland Security • Increased Alcohol or Illegal Drug Use • Increased Absenteeism • Increased Severe Mood Swings • Increased Domestic Problems at Work • Increased Policy Violations • Resistance/Overreaction to Changes in Policy • Decrease in Attention to Appearance • Suicidal Comments • Explosive Outbursts of Rage • Talk of Previous Incidents of Violence • Empathy with Individuals Committing Violence • Increased Comments About Firearms/Weapons • Noticeably Unstable Emotional Responses

27. Shootings are happening in the workplace What do we do… What’s the plan… Have a plan

28. Emergency Planning • Plans for Crisis • Tornados • Power outages • Bomb threats • Fires • Plan to Survive • Have a plan • Practice the plan

29. Goal: Not to live in fear or be paranoid But to be prepared Preparation not Fear

30. The Importance of Preparation Trained Response • Survival Reaction • Survival Mindset • Recall Learned Info • Survival Behavior • Live / Win “WE CAN DO THIS!” Untrained Response • Panic Reaction • Denial / Disbelief • Shock / Helplessness • Do nothing / sheep “This can’t be happening to me.”

31. Have a “Survival Mindset” • What do you want to get home for? • Your significant other, • your kids, • your grandkids, • Disney World? • Would you fight to save your family? Wouldn’t they want you to fight for save yourself? • Take responsibility for your survival!

32. Do’s and Don’ts • Don’t use flawed thinking… • “It won’t happen to me!” • “It won’t happen here!” • Don’t have a victim mentality… • “There is nothing I can do!” • “I can’t do that!” • DO know the policy • DO know the plan • DO know your environment • DO know escape routes • DO know safe rooms • DO report strangers • DO report potential threats

33. Shootings are happening in the workplace What do we do… Take action

34. The “Traditional Lockdown” • Has merit, but not a stand alone defense • Strategy: • secure in room, • turn off lights, • cover windows, • retreat to a corner of the room, and • wait for the police to rescue

35. “Traditional Lockdown” Concerns • Entire strategy depends on killer’s inability to get through door • Hopes police will rescue everyone before the killer gets them • Limits our natural instincts • Trains everyone to “Freeze” To “Freeze” is the worst response to directed violence

36. Trust your Instincts! • Options are a good thing! • Run • Hide • Attack

37. RUN • Run • Don’t wait for validation • Don’t take anything • Zigzag, if necessary • Communicate while running

38. Hide • Hide / Shelter in place • Call 911 • Lock and barricade • Evaluate escape routes • Evaluate window escape • Gather weapons • Work your plan

39. Barricade the Door • Goal: Buy Time • Lock Doors • Cover Windows • Barricade Barricades are designed to slow – not stop

42. Window Escape Option • Open or break window • Evaluate the risk • Will fall kill or injure you? • Surface: concrete / grass mulch / shrubs • Hang from the ledge to limit fall • Use items to limit the fall; i.e. belts or clothing

44. Last Resort: Shooter is in your room and there is no escape No better options attack

45. Attack • Group Attack Option: • YELL GUN • THROW ITEMS AT HEAD • CHARGE / SWARM • GRAB WEAPON • TAKE DOWN • HOLD FOR POLICE • Alone Option • THROW AND GO

48. Secure the Killer • Pile On: • Lay on extremities • Lay on core • Control head & neck • Toss the weapon, place in under a trash can