Second only to transportation, workplace violence is one of the major causes of death in the corporate world. This growing issue is one that businesses cannot afford to wait and must be addressed now.

Workplace violence is defined by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) as any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behavior that occurs at the worksite.

The Statistics According to OSHA:

• About 2 million people each year report some type of workplace violence
• It is estimated that 25 percent of workplace violence goes unreported

Who are the Assailants?

Studies show, the greatest threat that businesses face are their very own customers. Having a protocol for an active shooter response is critical. Because the assailant might have prior knowledge of the facility, the ability to respond and act quickly is crucial to preventing injury or death. Recently in Wisconsin there was an incident at a McDonalds where the customer received the wrong order and proceeded to get into an argument with the manager and attack a young employee. The customer shoved the young employee and caused her to hit her head on some equipment which then required treatment at a local hospital.

What’s the Impact?

These incidents are costing businesses a fortune and can sometimes cause the business to close. The average annual comprehensive cost of workplace violence incidents is 130 billion dollars.

As organizations look to prevent such tragedies, emergency preparedness procedures must not be overlooked. Establishing a plan for your employees can mean the difference between life and death.