Security & Risk Management Seminar

Workplace Safety Issues For Security Managers

Presentation Abstract

Every institution's Security Manager is responsible for developing and managing the institution's Security Program. Maintaining the security environment is perhaps the most important 1% of every institution’s business activities. The Security Program is designed to create and to maintain a safe and secure environment for the institution's employees to work -- and for the institution's customers to conduct business. Businesses pay the price of workplace violence and other safety issues in lost time, decreased productivity, increased employee turnover, increasing medical and insurance costs, costly litigation, increased internal and external security and lost trade.

This presentation addresses the increasing threat of violence -- including the mystique about workplace violence -- that presents special concerns for the Security Officer and institution's employees. Although the presentation focuses upon workplace violence, many of the proposed solution work well for non-crime events, too. Statistically, one in every four Americans will become the victim of a violent act during their lifetimes, either at home, at work -- or anywhere in between. One of every six violent events occurs in the workplace. And most people are unprepared to make the decisions that may save their lives. The likelihood of becoming a victim of a violent crime is present in the related crimes of simple assault, sexual assault, burglary, robbery, extortion, hostage events, bomb threats, relationship abuse, terrorist acts and "random" assaults. In this presentation, we examine:

l   What events often occur -- personally and professionally -- that will likely lead to violence

l   Who the offenders really are -- and how they target potential victims

l   How to combine general safety strategies with specific techniques and tactics to defeat an offender's plan

l   When victims are most vulnerable -- and what behavioral options exist

l   Where are the most common locations for offenders to attack -- and how to recognize potentially dangerous situations

l   Why targets of violent events survived -- the benefits of logical vs. emotional decision-making

l   How using hypothetical problem-solving scenarios helps you to create effective self-defense plans

Presentation Topics

l   Do Employers Face Any Legal Issues Regarding Workplace Violence?

l   Why Is A Pre-Employment Screening Process Important?

¡  Validating Past Employment History

¡  Conducting Background Investigations

¡  Conducting Psychological Testing

¡  Conducting Substance Abuse Testing

l   What Prevention Strategies Should My Institution Adopt?

¡  Developing Policies

¡  Establishing A Complaint & Follow Up Procedure

¡  Establishing A Threat Policy & Procedure

¡  Conducting Exit Interviews

¡  Reviewing & Updating The Security Program & Procedures

¡  Documenting Events

¡  Installing Emergency Alarms

¡  Installing Surveillance Cameras

¡  Involving Local Law Enforcement

¡  Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

¡  Conducting Training Programs

¡  Establishing & Training A Crisis Management Team

¡  Training Supervisors

¡  Training Personnel About Conflict Resolution Techniques

¡  Providing Employee Safety Education Programs

¡  Providing Selected Services

Presentation Objectives

This presentation is designed to help you:

l   Understand why non-crime acts and acts of social and workplace violence can occur anywhere -- at any time

l   Show the proven links between a person's lifestyle and his/her vulnerability to a personal attack -- and the critical risk behaviors of both victims and offenders

l   Create an alliance between the Security, Audit, Facility Management, Administration and Human Resources functions to work together to prevent acts of workplace violence -- and to handle them effectively and quickly if they do occur

l   Demonstrate just who the violent offenders are, who they target -- and how they get into the workplace

l   Learn what motivates a violent offender -- and where they look for opportunities

l   Understand which acts of violence are the most common and most predictable -- and which ones generally offer no warning

Presentation Audience