According to OSHA, almost two million American workers are assaulted or threatened with violence in the workplace every year. In fact, homicide is now the second leading cause of occupational deaths in the United States.
While the news media generally only reports on sensational mass shootings, the fact is, workplace violence is a huge problem that happens far more often than what gets reported on the evening news.
As with all crimes, situational awareness is the number-one thing you can do to limit the likelihood of becoming a victim. Always be alert to what’s going on around you. In the case of workplace violence, there are some warning signs to look out for.
Keep a close eye on anyone who exhibits these early warning signs:
If a coworker exhibits any of these behaviors, make a quick written record of what you witnessed, noting the date and time it took place and who was involved. Then notify your HR department immediately. Your record will help you remember the important details and help you explain your concerns in a concrete way so the company can take necessary steps to fully address the issue. It’s important to be specific and cite examples of the threatening behavior. This will also help protect you from legal action should you have to use any form of self-defense against this person in the future.
The best way to prevent becoming a victim is to remove yourself from any situation that seems to be spiraling out of control.
Many survival experts recommend sheltering in place during a mass shooting event. I believe this advice is no different than telling someone to hide inside their office while the building is on fire—in both cases the advice is not only stupid, it’s probably going to get you killed.
In most mass shooting events, the shooters are usually not the greatest marksmen. It’s a lot easier for them to hit a stationary target than for them to hit a target that’s quickly and stealthily moving away from the situation. Your number-one objective should always be escape.
The most important part of surviving any violent attack is to keep your wits and decide that no matter what happens you will not become a victim. Those who develop a mindset of not giving up and doing everything within their power to live are far more likely to survive. Fear will be a natural reaction to the situation, but don’t let it incapacitate you.
If there’s no possible way to escape the situation, you’re going to need to do everything in your power to fight back. If you have no way to escape, your only option is to fight. In this type of situation, you must be willing to do everything in your power to neutralize the attacker. Review chapter thirteen on self-defense and make sure you are properly trained.