With duress technology literally at their fingertips, healthcare staff can request help anytime/anywhere in facilities and rest assured that assistance is on the way.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency created a new de-escalation series to help critical infrastructure owners and operators recognize, assess, de-escalate and report behaviors that raise concern. 

At HCA Healthcare, Kat Kemper, Director of Physical Security, has built the enterprise security program from the ground up, developing and implementing physical security measures to support patient care, privacy and overall security goals.

While tensions or disagreements may be part of any work setting, identifying the warning signs and responding appropriately can prevent conflict from escalating into something more dangerous.

It’s challenging to find feasible solutions to an ongoing risk of flight attendants and frontline transportation workers being subject to workplace violence or physical altercations with customers or the public. Risk professionals should ensure these employees have access to self-defense training and others tools, as well as look to implement a zero-tolerance policy for passenger disruptions.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has designated 40 shootings in 2020 as active shooter incidents. Although 2020 witnessed the highest rate of active shooter incidents for the period 2000 to 2020, casualties were significantly lower. Here’s a breakdown of the FBI’s Active Shooter Incidents in the U.S. in 2020.

De-escalation is a key frontline security strategy in a range of situations, from hospitals to retail settings to office environments. Many sectors, such as travel and airlines, healthcare facilities, retail and more, have seen an increase in agitated behavior or violent incidents in recent years, some spawned from tensions rising regarding mask mandates and COVID-19 protocols. Here, we take a look at de-escalation strategies and training that security leaders can implement within their organizations to keep security, staff and visitors safe.

Security teams of all sectors face incidents of violence, anxiety, escalation and trauma during their careers. For a security leader, fostering a healthy workplace environment following trauma or helping managers and frontline security personnel navigate such incidents is particularly essential to healing, reducing turnover, and allowing everyone in the workplace to feel heard, respected and confident.

As workplaces have had to change the way they do just about everything – from employees working remotely, to virtual meetings and conferences, and more, planning for an emergency has had to change as well. Prevention, response, and mitigation planning is critical to ensure employee safety operations and business continuity in the out years. Here are four steps that you should keep in mind as you update and improve your organization’s emergency response and recovery plans.