As most know, workplace violence is up. Among other things, the economic downturn and lack of jobs has made many people crazy. We see shootings almost on a weekly basis and incidents on the job.
Workplace violence can be broken down to three general categories. The first is where it is employee to employee. The second is an outsider but someone who at least one employee knows. This is typically a person with a grudge, be it personal and focused on one staff member, or animosity to the company in general. Reverse branding, one could call it. And, lastly, the scenario where the workplace violence comes from an external source, a complete outsider who doesn’t have any relationship with the company at all.
Either way, workplace violence can range from abuse to dangerous and violent outbursts. It could be a shouting match or assailants intent on causing physical harm.
Heartland Regional Medical Center, in Missouri, had an intruder not long ago. The intruder was wearing an overcoat and carrying a pistol. The threat was real. As a pro-active measure the Hospital will be issuing nine millimeter semi-automatic pistols to some thirteen security officers.
According to the article in SecurityInfo Watch…”The officers are responsible for hospital response on the campus grounds and they underwent training over the past five months to carry .9-millimeter SIG Sauer P226 — a full-sized, service-type pistols that can be used in “high-stress” situations that officers face on a routine basis, said Derek Conz, Heartland security team leader.
“All the training that the security officers went through mirrors the exact training that a new recruit would do in going through the police academy,” Mr. Conz said. “In addition to that, we also added more training, so not only are we meeting current standards, we even exceed them so we will be ready to go live May 1.”
Six of Heartland’s officers responsible are responsible for emergency room security and will not carry sidearms, but will be able to call for patrolling officers if firearm force is needed. Mr. Conz said Heartland’s board of trustees extended funds to make firearms available to the security staff at a cost of roughly $1,100 per officer.”
In addition to arming and training the security officers, I would recommend comprehensive background checks on each new employment candidate. In a potentially volatile environment, you want to see who you are bringing onboard.
