Communication Two: Workplace Violence

 Trigger Warning: Violence and Weapon-Related Topics 

   Reflecting on what I have experienced in the workplace, either in my internship or in my volunteering job at a homeless shelter, workplace violence is not rare. People who suffer from mental health concerns are likely to make a scene, but we cannot blame them because they have no control over it. The first thing is that the workers often have de-escalation training, and if a client suddenly has an emotional meltdown, the workers can try to de-escalate the client. If the client fails to control their temper, the workers can use the silent alarm in the room. The silent alarm is a small button hidden in the corner of the table, but unlike the movies, the silent alarm is usually white and not that obvious. The silent alarm directly connects to the local police stations. All the workers in the office or the building need to have their doors locked until further notice.
    There are also preventative measures regarding workplace violence. If we expect to have a difficult client, we will get a notice in advance regarding the potential lockdown, and the workers are instructed to stay in the office or at least not wander in the corridors, especially around the meeting room. The workers shall expect and presume the client may carry weapons and take preventative measures accordingly.
If the workers need to work outside the facilities, a partner or a coworker is required. The workers need to work in pairs for the sake of safety. A pager and another silent alarm are necessary. The workers are not allowed to wear high-heeled shoes or other shoes not suitable for running. Policies regarding carrying self-defense weapons vary; some facilities specifically do not allow workers to carry weapons. To me, testing if my gears are suitable for running is crucial. From my experience, for people wearing belts, an easy way to test the belt is to push both sides of the straps into the buckle, and if the belt comes loose, it should be replaced immediately.
    The worst workplace violence, or similar to workplace violence, that can happen is school shootings. When I was in the States, luckily, there was only one case involving an armed criminal wandering around, and no harm was committed. Even the news later reported that a criminal is around several miles away from my school on foot, precautionary actions are still taken. The first step is to stop any educational activities and shut down the lights and projectors, then cover the window of the door. Locking the door is enough, but, depending on the situation, barricading the door may be needed.
    When I was in the States, at the beginning of the semester, there was a mandatory training regarding school shootings. "Run, hide, fight" are the elements in the training. The first step is to run away from the scene, and if you cannot run, hide in some quiet place. The students are advised to hide in a dark place, keep their phone shut, and try not to make a noise. Only report to the police when you are safe enough. If a car is not fortified, only the car engine is strong enough to stop a bullet. The worst scenarios are to fight against the shooters, and cross your fingers that they have a long gun but not a short one. Long guns are more challenging to maneuver in a cramped space, and hiding near the door gives you a slim chance to fight. When I move to Canada, at least in this school, the doors are made from polymers, so I think barricading the doors is required. School shootings are way less frequent in Canada, and that's why we don't have that training, which is a good thing. To be honest, I wish I did not need to know all of the things mentioned above. I hope I don't need to face those in the future. 

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