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An Article by Mike Wood   Move The worst thing a potential victim can do in an active shooter situation is to freeze in position in a state of confusion or shock. Unfortunately, this is also the most likely response to sudden violence (even if just temporarily), so it’s vital to prepare people for this possibility, and get them thinking in advance about ways to recognize and fix this problem if it occurs. Forewarned is forearmed. By commanding a person to "Move!" as the first...

As an officer of the law, I have to make this decision every time I put on my uniform; the decision to survive.  I know those patches that read POLICE in reflective yellow make me a target of violence.  I understand that the oath I took to uphold the law and to protect & serve others means I will place myself between the threat and the innocent.  And I do so with the mindset that I will also protect my...

Most companies conduct background checks for new hires.  It’s not a new concept.  But for those of you who have tenured employees, how often are you looking into their backgrounds?  In the span of less than a year, how many life-altering events does the average employee experience?  How many of those could potentially affect their behavior at work? A couple of years ago, I put together a Safety & Security Council for one of my facilities.  This council was responsible for...

The General Duty Clause of 1970 was amended in 2011 to include “In a workplace where the risk of violence and severe injury are significant enough to be ‘recognized hazards,' the General Duty Clause would require employers to take steps to minimize these hazards.” Recent court rulings, relative to liability lawsuits, have shown active shooter scenarios are now considered a ‘recognized hazard’ to employees. In a 2013 court decision, the court found fault with the employer (Accent Signage) for negligence and failing to...

We all know that in an economic downturn, departments or initiatives which do not generate revenue are often the first to be cut. I have witnessed this more than a few times in my 22 years in Corporate America. Generally speaking, one of 3 things happens to those department’s duties: 1) Disseminated to other departments to add to their already overflowing plate 2) Outsourced and done on a pay as you need basis 3) Terminated Unfortunately, option one often leads to option three due to a...