With workplace violence on the rise, many Americans whose employers are now requiring them to return to work after the pandemic are fearful of being the victim of a violent incident at work.
OSHA defines workplace violence as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite.
Every year, more Americans are reporting to be victims of workplace violence. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), at least 2 million Americans report being the victim of workplace violence, though about one-fourth of these incidents go unreported. In a SHRM survey in 2019, “About a quarter of American workers say there has been at least one incident of workplace violence at their current place of employment.”
The worst manifestation of workplace violence is an active shooter situation. A database compiled by The Associated Press, USA Today, and Northeastern University found that between 2006 and February 2020, there had been 13 mass workplace shootings carried out by a current or former employee — roughly one a year on average.
Moreover, the Department of Justice has found violence to be a leading cause of fatal injuries at work and estimates the number of workplace homicides to exceed 1,000 each year.
Why Has the Number of Workplace Shootings Increased?
After nine people were shot and killed by a coworker at a California rail yard in May 2021, NPR produced a report entitled “We’re Seeing A Spike In Workplace Shootings. Here’s Why.” The California shooting rampage was the third such workplace shooting in less than two months.
Interviewed for the NPR report at the time, Jaclyn Schildkruat, associate professor of criminal justice at the State University of New York at Oswego, said that those incidents could foreshadow a rise in workplace violence after the nationwide COVID-19 pandemic shutdown.
Another reason why we see an increase in workplace shootings is attackers have had time to plan out their attacks. Since most employees were working from home for a year, that gave workers with violent tendencies time away from others to plan.
Lastly, there has been an increase in overall shootings. The Gun Violence Archive reported 693 mass shootings (defined as four or more people shot) and 23 mass murders in 2021. The number of mass murders in 2021 represented a 13.3-percent increase over 2020. As of May 10, there have been 185 mass shootings and 8 mass murders so far in 2022.
How can we protect ourselves from workplace shootings?
Developed by Optimal Preparedness Training (OPTU), our Smart Response to Active Emergencies course will teach the techniques needed to reduce risk and improve personal safety during an active shooting.
Our subject-matter experts will introduce you to an important life-saving concept entitled, “Run, Hide, Engage”, which will teach you how to handle any situation that puts you at risk.
The OPTU Smart Response System utilizes core principles, integrated smart concepts, and essential skills that are necessary for a successful emergency response outcome.
To learn more about our Smart Response to Active Emergencies course, visit https://optu.com/e-response/. Program advisors are available to speak with you today.
