Workplace Shooting

Government statistics show that fatal workplace shootings, like happened in Orland today, are on the rise.

In a report by Laurie Kellman, associated press, Kellman states:

“Revenge against an employer, romantic partner or co-workers often is the motive, experts say. Reports of workplace violence are quick to spread across social media. ‘It really all boils down pretty much to the same issues: A person wants to feel that they have more control, they want to have more power,’ said threat assessment expert Michael Corcoran. ‘What are seeing when this happens is it gets played up more, so they say, ‘Ah OK, that’s an alternative.” What has changed in recent years is the willingness of employers to set up systems to monitor people who might be threats, experts said.”

One of the things I discuss in my Survive a Shooting course is a threat assessment team, and how organizations can set up systems to monitor people that might be a threat. This is an important “before” step. Ideally, we prevent these workplace shootings rather than react to them.

Kellman also reported:

“Identifying people with ‘concerning behavior’ is key for virtually any company, experts said. That means setting up an ‘interdisciplinary threat assessment team’ of company managers and, sometimes, local law enforcement, to look at and perhaps track workers who were terminated or suspended, said Matthew W. Doherty, senior vice president for threat and violence risk management at Hillard Heintze.”

Times are changing, and sadly, some not for the better. I do not know why there is an increase in workplace shootings, but I do know that hiding under a desk and hoping is not a plan for survival. There are things that can be done before, during, and after and incident to decrease the body count these sick individuals are after. This site, and the Survive a Shooting course, are designed to help you do just that.