The George Sodini tragedy: is your company prepared for workplace violence?

By Peggy Castellano, examiner.com

When 48 year old George Sodini walked into the LA Fitness in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania, he had already announced his decision to die. He had been planning his attack on his website prior to the incident, and had announced the date of his death as August 5, 2009.

Sodini shot himself after killing three other innocent people and wounding 9. He stormed into a high-impact aerobics class in this small Pennsylvania suburb and started firing. Mayhem broke out as people tried to escape the sound of gun fire. Employees and club members helped the injured while others called for help.

According to OSHA, the government’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration, workplace violence continues to be a rising issue in the United States. Employers should look at the Pennsylvania shootings as a wake-up call and revisit their internal company emergency and safety procedures.

Safety is of primary concern for employees and customers. By implementing several important steps, an employer may increase the safety of his employees and prepare them in the event of an emergency.

- Check for overall building security. This includes lighting, access ways, gates, main and back entrances, etc. Review visitor procedures to check for vulnerabilities. Ensure that buildings are secure, and that proper lighting is installed at night. Secure companies utilize a combination of security measures, including employee ID badges, visitor badges, secure access keys, and other electronic key cards to gain admission to company premises.

- For small businesses or operations that use cash, review the cash management system. It’s best not to have large volumes of cash on hand at any given time. Arrange for frequent deposits or have a safe on property.

- Establish safety rules and have consequences for the violators. Make it clear that safety is a priority for employees and customers.

- Train the workforce. Provide safety, emergency, and violence preparedness training. Everyone should be safety aware.

There are also a multitude of safety training programs to purchase or bring in-house to train employees on safety issues. Or work with company trainers and Safety Departments to design training programs to suit company needs.

If an act of violence, or a severe safety injury occurs, be sure to work with employees following the incident. Bring in counselors or social workers, depending on the size and scope of the situation, to help the employees recover from their experience. Communicate with them throughout the ordeal and implement new work procedures or policies if necessary to help prevent a future incident.

Preparing the workforce for potential workplace hazards, and helping them be mindful of what actions to take in the event of an emergency can prevent injury and potentially save lives.