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Active Shooter

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Toolbox Talk: Active Shooter Preparedness

Date: [DATE] Duration: [DURATION] minutes Presenter: [PRESENTER NAME] Location: [LOCATION]

Objective

To equip employees with the knowledge and skills necessary to respond effectively during an active shooter situation, increasing their chances of survival and minimizing potential harm.

Introduction

Active shooter incidents are unpredictable and can occur in any workplace. Being prepared and knowing how to react can significantly improve safety and survival rates. This toolbox talk will cover essential strategies and procedures to follow in such events.

Presenter Note: Engage the audience by asking if anyone has personal experience related to the topic.

Key Points

  • Run: If there is an accessible escape path, attempt to evacuate the premises. [1]
  • Hide: If evacuation is not possible, find a place to hide where the active shooter is less likely to find you. [1]
  • Fight: As a last resort, and only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to fight back. [1]
  • Stay Aware: Pay attention to your surroundings and any potential dangers. [1]
  • Report: Report any suspicious activity to security or law enforcement immediately. [1]

Hazard Identification

  • Active Shooter: The primary hazard is an individual actively engaged in killing or attempting to kill people in a confined and populated area. Consequences include serious injury or death. [2]
  • Panic and Confusion: High-stress situations can lead to panic, impairing decision-making and increasing the risk of injury. [1]
  • Blocked Exits: Escape routes may be blocked or inaccessible, hindering evacuation efforts. [3]

Presenter Note: Encourage participants to share any additional hazards they've encountered.

Control Measures

  • Emergency Action Plan: Develop and implement a comprehensive emergency action plan that includes evacuation procedures, shelter-in-place protocols, and communication strategies. [1]
  • Training and Drills: Conduct regular training sessions and drills to familiarize employees with the emergency action plan and response procedures. [3]
  • Secure Work Environment: Implement security measures such as controlled access, surveillance systems, and security personnel to deter potential threats. [1]
  • Communication Systems: Establish clear and reliable communication channels to disseminate information during an active shooter event. [1]

Safe Work Procedures

  1. Evacuate (Run): If there is a clear and safe escape path, evacuate immediately. Do not hesitate. [3]
  2. Hide: If evacuation is not possible, find a secure hiding place out of view. [1]
  3. Fight (as a last resort): Only when your life is in imminent danger, attempt to fight back with any available means. [1]
  4. Call 911: As soon as it is safe to do so, call 911 and provide your location, the number of shooters, and a description of the situation. [1]
  5. Follow Law Enforcement Instructions: Cooperate fully with law enforcement officers when they arrive on the scene. [1]

Presenter Note: If possible, demonstrate the safe work procedure or use visual aids.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Requirements

  • Not Applicable: In an active shooter situation, standard PPE is not applicable. Focus is on evacuation, hiding, or fighting as a last resort.

Real-World Example or Case Study

[Provide a detailed description of a relevant real-world scenario or case study]

[Discuss what went wrong or right, and the lessons learned]

Presenter Note: Ask participants if they can relate this example to their own experiences.

Group Discussion

Discuss the following questions:

  1. What are the most likely escape routes from your work area?
  2. Where are the designated safe rooms or hiding places in your building?
  3. How can we improve our communication during an emergency?

Presenter Note: Encourage active participation and facilitate the discussion.

Emergency Procedures

  1. Evacuate: If possible, evacuate the building immediately, following designated escape routes. [3]
  2. Hide: If evacuation is not possible, seek shelter in a secure room, lock the door, and barricade it if possible. [1]
  3. Call 911: Contact emergency services and provide your location and details about the situation. [1]
  4. Remain Calm: Stay calm and follow instructions from law enforcement or emergency personnel. [1]

Questions and Answers

[Encourage participants to ask questions]

[Provide answers to common questions related to the topic]

  • Q: What should I do if I encounter the shooter?

A: Your immediate response should be based on the circumstances. If possible, run. If not, hide. As a last resort, fight. [1]

  • Q: Where do I go after I evacuate?

A: Go to the designated assembly point and await further instructions from emergency personnel. [3]

  • Q: What information should I provide to 911?

A: Provide your location, the number of shooters, a description of the shooter(s), and the type of weapons they have. [1]

Summary

  • Remember the key actions: Run, Hide, Fight. [1]
  • Stay aware of your surroundings and report any suspicious activity. [1]
  • Know the evacuation routes and safe hiding places in your workplace. [3]
  • Cooperate fully with law enforcement and emergency personnel. [1]

Action Items

  1. Review the company's emergency action plan.
  2. Identify primary and secondary escape routes from your work area.
  3. Familiarize yourself with the location of designated safe rooms or hiding places.

Remember: Your safety is our priority. Be prepared, stay aware, and act decisively.

Report all hazards, near-misses, and incidents to your supervisor immediately.

Safety powered by SALUS

3 source record(s)

Sources used for this answer

[1] Nevada Operations Manual (Nevada OSHA)

Page 164

Open source document

Source excerpt

## Chapter 11 ## IMMINENT DANGER, FATALITY, CATASTROPHE, AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE ## 1. IMMINENT DANGER SITUATIONS - a. GENERAL - 1. Definition -NAC 618.6413 -'Imminent danger means the existence of any condition or practice in a workplace which could reasonably be expected immediately to cause death or serious physical harm to any employee if operations were to proceed in the workplace or if employees were to enter it before the condition or practice is eliminated." - 2. Conditions - The following conditions must be present in order for a hazard to be considered an imminent danger: - A. Death or serious harm must be threatened; AND - B. Most likely, a serious accident would occur immediately OR, if not immediately then before abatement was completed. - NOTE: For a health hazard, exposure to the toxic substance or other hazard must cause harm to such a degree as to shorten life, be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH), or cause substantial reduction in physical or mental efficiency or health, even though the resulting harm may not manifest itself immediately. ## b. PRE-INSPECTION PROCEDURES - 1. Imminent Danger Report Received by the Field - A. After the DM or designee receives a report of imminent danger, he/she will evaluate the inspection requirements and assign a CSHO to conduct the inspection. - B. Make every effort to open the imminent danger inspection on the same day the District Office received the report. In any case, open the inspection no later than the day after the receiving the report. - C. When an immediate inspection cannot be made, the DM or designee will contact the employer immediately, obtain as many pertinent details as possible about the situation, and attempt to have any employee(s) affected by the imminent danger voluntarily removed, if necessary. - · A record of what steps, if any, the employer intends to take in order to eliminate the danger will be included in the case file. - · This notification is considered an advance not…

[2] Safety Standards for General Safety and Health Standards (Chaper 296-24 WAC)

Page 247

Open source document

Source excerpt

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ - (i) Emergency escape procedures and emergency escape route assignments; - (ii) Procedures to be followed by employees who remain to operate critical plant operations before they evacuate; - (iii) Procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed; - (iv) Rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them; - (v) The preferred means of reporting fires and other emergencies; and - (vi) Names or regular job titles of persons or departments who can be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan. - (c) Alarm systems. You must establish an employee alarm system which complies with WAC [redacted identifier]. The employee alarm system must provide warning for necessary emergency action as called for in your emergency action plan. The employee alarm must be distinctive and recognizable as a signal to perform actions designed under the emergency action plan. - (d) Evacuation. You must establish in the emergency action plan the types of evacuation to be used in emergency circumstances. ## (e) Training. - (i) Before implementing the emergency action plan, you must designate and train a sufficient number of persons to assist in the safe and orderly emergency evacuation of employees. - (ii) The employer must review the plan with each employee covered by the plan at the following times: - (A) Initially when the plan is developed; - (B) Whenever the employee's responsibilities or designated actions under the plan change; and - (C) Whenever the plan is changed. - (iii) You must review with each employee upon initial assignment those parts of the plan which the employee must know to protect the employee in the event of an emergency. You must keep the written plan at the workplace and m…

[3] Rules for the Administration of the Oregon Safe Employment Act (General Occupational Safety and Health, Division 2, OSHA Oregon)

Page 684

Open source document

Source excerpt

Division 2 AO 3-2019 Oregon Administrative Rules Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division - (1) Emergency response plan. An emergency response plan shall be developed and implemented to handle anticipated emergencies prior to the commencement of emergency response operations. The plan shall be in writing and available for inspection and copying by employees, their representatives and OSHA personnel. Employers who will evacuate their employees from the danger area when an emergency occurs, and who do not permit any of their employees to assist in handling the emergency, are exempt from the requirements of this paragraph if they provide an emergency action plan in accordance with 1910.38(a) of this part. - (2) Elements of an emergency response plan. The employer shall develop an emergency response plan for emergencies which shall address, as a minimum, the following to the extent that they are not addressed elsewhere: - (i) Pre-emergency planning and coordination with outside parties. - (ii) Personnel roles, lines of authority, training, and communication. - (iii) Emergency recognition and prevention. - (iv) Safe distances and places of refuge. - (v) Site security and control. - (vi) Evacuation routes and procedures. - (vii) Decontamination. - (viii) Emergency medical treatment and first aid. - (ix) Emergency alerting and response procedures. - (x) Critique of response and follow-up. - (xi) PPE and emergency equipment. - (xii) Emergency response organizations may use the local emergency response plan or the state emergency response plan or both, as part of their emergency response plan to avoid duplication. Those items of the emergency response plan that are being properly addressed by the SARA Title III plans may be substituted into their emergency plan or otherwise kept together for the employer and employee's use. - (3) Procedures for handling emergency response. Note: 1910.38 is now OAR [redacted phone].

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