Q: In Gainesville FL where I live, two people were shot while working at an apartment complex last week Tuesday. One worked as an office manager, the other as a maintenance worker, when a tenant came in and killed them. These shouldn’t be dangerous jobs.
Then on Ash Wednesday, in Parkland FL another shooting left 17 dead. Three of them apparently killed while working, as a teacher, a coach, an administrator, all trying to protect students.
It seems like no matter where you work, you’re not safe. Is there anything employers can do to protect employees?
A: You’re right. The randomness of gun violence has also made getting shot on the job more random. It used to be that only people who worked in high-risk occupations like law enforcement could expect the risk of death by gunshot on the job. Now, there have been so many shootings at universities, churches, elementary schools and high schools that being a pastor or a teacher also puts you in the cross hairs.
But regardless of the type of workplace, employers can offer some basic training on how to respond to an active shooter situation.
There’s an excellent , free 5-minute video available online, created by the City of Houston titled Run-Hide-Fight . It’s one of many training responses from US agencies tasked with keeping employees safe – including OSHA, FEMA, DHS, and the FBI- who often investigate workplace, school, college and university shootings. Search online for “Run, Hide, Fight” to find lots of resources. This is a quick and inexpensive way to provide training, and the opportunity to bring up the subject with employees in a supportive and pro-active way.
Sadly, unless you want to keep employees behind bullet proof glass and Kevlar vests, there’s no perfect way for employers to protect their employees. Training and preparation only go so far.
Parkland school teacher Melissa Falkowski said “We could not have been more prepared for this situation, which is what makes it so frustrating,” “We did everything that we were supposed to do…. and to still have so many casualties,… I feel today that our government, our country has failed us…”
I’m frustrated too. Maybe the best way for employers to protect their employees (and their kids) is to register to vote call their lawmakers and get involved. As this clever 30 sec video illustrates, guns are no longer muskets.
©Copyright Eva Del Rio
Eva Del Rio is creator of HR Box™ – tools for small businesses and startups. Send questions to Eva@evadelrio.com
