How to Create an Active Shooter Plan for Your Business

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If you work in a high-risk environment, it’s important to be prepared with an active shooter plan. Find out how to protect your business.

Did you know that 79 percent of workplace homicides are shootings?

Even though workplace shootings continue to be rare, they’re on the rise. 

If you work in a high-risk environment, then you need to be prepared for the worst-case scenario. That’s why it’s important to come up with an active shooter plan to protect your business and employees.

In this article, you’ll learn more about how to create an active shooter plan for your business. Read below!

Who to Involve in Your Active Shooter Plan?

You need to coordinate with the following departments in your business:

  • Human resources (HR)
  • Training department
  • Facility management
  • Security

You should also request guidance from the emergency response unit in your location.

However, it’s important to know that you can’t rely on law enforcement. Over two-thirds of incidents are over before law enforcement arrives on the scene.

There are multiple components of designing an active shooter plan for your workplace. 

Evacuation Procedure

If an active shooter appears in your workplace, the most important step is to evacuate the area immediately. You need to make sure you have an evacuation procedure in place in case of an emergency. 

It’s necessary that your employees understand the importance of getting away from the active shooter as quickly as possible. You need to clearly inform them about the workplace floor plan and the exits from the building.  

It’s essential that your employees are encouraged to help each other if the incident occurs. However, it is urgent that they take care of themselves first before they help others.

If unable to escape from the building, then you need to establish with your employees the importance of finding shelter. 

Contact Information

You also need to include in your active shooter plan information about whom to contact in case of emergency (including name, telephone number, and address).

These include the following:

  • Local hospitals
  • Local emergency responders 
  • Employees at remote areas of your workplace
  • Local law enforcement

There may be a number of workplace specific contact information examples which are not included here. 

Training Exercises 

You should conduct training exercises to ensure that your employees know the evacuation procedure inside and out. This involves carrying out mock exercises in which you simulate the response to an active shooter in the workplace. 

In your training exercises, you should include the following questions:

  • Do your employees recognize the sound of gunshots?
  • Can your employees effectively call 911?
  • Do your employees know the evacuation procedure?

By drilling your employees with training exercises, you can prepare your business for an active shooter. 

Do You Need to Tighten Your Security?

If your workplace is in a high-risk environment, then you need to make sure you have an active shooter plan in place in case of an emergency.

However, you may also discover that you need to tighten your security in order to deal with dangerous threats to your business.

You can find out more about our Active Shooter Preparedness training and security services on our website or contact us.