It’s starting to feel like shootings and other dangers in business settings are becoming more common.
In the Twin Cities this summer, a man was shot at Marcus Cinemas in Oakdale. The Mall of America was put on lockdown following an in-store shooting, and shoppers and employees were stunned when a man shot himself in his store at Shields in Eden Prairie.
For business owners and managers, these emergencies are rare, but they can be deadly and traumatic for employees and customers.
Many large companies and regional destinations already have hazard plans in place for serious incidents, but small businesses need to plan as well, safety experts say.
Companies can be held liable if they do not have a significant incident plan to help mitigate foreseeable risks.
Randy Spivey, chief executive officer and founder of the Center for Personal Protection and Safety, a consulting firm in Tysons, Virginia, said:
One of the first important things business owners should do is analyze their biggest risks. It starts with looking at the size of the business, its location, the type and amount of customers it serves, the number of employees, and the public access he has had for many years as a security consultant in the Twin Cities and a safety manager at a school in Minneapolis. CEO Jason Matlock said.
“Not all companies have the same types of risks,” Matlock said.
Companies should put in place violence prevention policies to clarify what is acceptable behavior and when it is considered a threat requiring intervention, Spivey said.
Employees need to be trained on indicators of when an incident may lead to violence and how to escalate a situation, he said.
Good customer service can often help prevent many incidents from spiraling out of control, says Matlock.
Another part of planning is understanding how the business should currently respond to risks. Matlock suggests involving those who will be part of the response, such as store employees, in planning.
Matlock said owners should have “table talks” with staff and explain various emergency scenarios so everyone understands how to respond. , and use a similar framework for different hazards so that you can easily remember what other roles you’re looking for.
Contingency plans not only help organizations become more resilient to crises, but they also help individuals, Spivey said. He said that if people were trained in how to respond at work, they would have better situational awareness in their personal lives when emergencies occur.
Each scenario is different, but generally, if people can remove themselves from potentially violent events, they should. If not, barricade somewhere until it’s safe. must be made. If they’re in a group, there are situations where they can fight back, Spivey said.
Business owners need to know what they can afford and what they can mitigate. Businesses can hire armed guards, but owners should evaluate whether the benefits outweigh the potential downsides for some customers who find armed guards offensive, Matlock said. said.
As part of their response plans, businesses should understand the types of resources available, such as who to call if someone is in a mental health crisis.
After responding to an event, you need a recovery plan to communicate to the public what happened inside and outside your organization. Other services such as trauma counseling and family support should also be considered, Spivey said.
Businesses need to be prepared, but owners shouldn’t just focus on worst-case scenario violence, Matlock said.
“It’s not the most likely thing to happen to you,” he said. is much better.
The plan should be reviewed regularly. Organizations such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and the Better Business Bureau offer free resources for businesses on how to create emergency preparedness plans and training.
Bloomington police officer Andy Risdall said the police department could also be a good resource for training on major incidents. Some large police departments, like Bloomington, regularly contact businesses on crime prevention topics such as emergency preparedness. Local law enforcement may conduct business walkthroughs upon request to provide feedback on safety risks.
Businesses in small communities can ask business organizations, such as building owners or local chambers of commerce, to help organize training, Risdall said. Risdall said interest in active shooter training often increases after high-profile mass shootings make the news.
An urgent professional assessment can cost between $1,500 and $5,000. Online training for workplace violence prevention at the Center for Personal Protection and Safety (CPPS) ranges from $70 for a basic course to his $1,500 for more intensive training and exercises. Several insurers offer discounts to organizations that have achieved CPPS Safe Workplace Certification, Spivey said.
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