How Safe Do You Feel in Your Workplace?
After Friday's incident at Gateway Center in Pittsburgh and another one at Western Psych in Oakland this March, Pittsburghers might feel a bit more vulnerable at work.
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Thirty-year-old John Shick of Shadyside walked into Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic of UPMC in Oakland in March and opened fire, killing one person and injuring seven others. He also died in the gunfire.
Friday's hostage incident at Three Gateway Center in downtown Pittsburgh had a happier ending in that the suspect, Klein Michael Thaxton, 22, and his hostage, Charles Breitsman, both emerged from the building without injuries, as did the workers who fled the danger.
Unfortunately, such incidents with armed gunmen seem to be occurring more frequently and no place is immune. Schools, movie theaters, workplaces—in fact any place—can be vulnerable.
Many companies and office buildings conduct routine fire drills. But how many conduct drills or training sessions on what to do when an armed suspect enters and threatens employees?
Do you feel safe when working before or after regular business hours? Are there places to seek a safe haven inside your building? Have you ever felt vulnerable?
Take our poll and let us know in comments your thoughts on this subject.
Roger
2:03 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Quoting: "... Unfortunately, such incidents with armed gunmen seem to be occurring more frequently and no place is immune. Schools, movie theaters, workplaces—in fact any place—can be vulnerable. ..."
How many people are killed in these establishments? I don't have the numbers, but I am sure that the 17,000 people killed every years because of DUI is many, many times these killings. While we get excited and frustrated because of these killings, we (as a society) continue to take a ho-hum approach to the DUI problem. I don't want to marginalize the deaths referenced in the article, but if we want to save lives, how about putting the focus on the problem causing the greatest number of deaths?
cc
8:57 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Roger, I am all for busting people DUI as they have no business on the road. I don't ho-hum about it. I have told my friends if they go out drinking, to call me at night and will go pick them up, but they still get behind the wheels of cars.
I also believe in carrying a gun with me 24/7 to places that allow it. People are against guns but it isn't the ones that have taken training classes that kills, it is the outlaws and mentally ill that have them and make me scared.
Joseph
2:03 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Correction: Thaxton was not an armed gunman. He had a knife and a hammer. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/21/us-crime-hostage-pittsburgh-idUSBRE88K0S820120921
Here are other recent incidents involving armed knifeman at workplaces: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Chrysler-factory-employee-kills-co-worker-self-3880522.php
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20120915/NEWS01/120915001/Walmart-knife-incident-ends-Des-Moines-arrest
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/09/kps_issues_statement_about_att.html
william atwell
2:03 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Really? Work place violence is nothing new. And with these two cases it is a act of randomness
cc
2:03 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
I feel totally safe at my place of business.
Zandy Dudiak
8:08 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
Roger, you are absolutely right. When I read through the number of DUI incidents reported on our Patch sites, I am amazed that we aren't up in arms about the number of people out there driving while drunk or using drugs. When I read the ones with two or more offenses, I get more upset. We, as a society, tend to react to the "big incidents" rather than the small ones.
tom
8:16 pm on Sunday, September 23, 2012
With the patrons we have I'm supprised we haven't been robbed yet. It's just a matter of time as the economy tanks.
william atwell
9:38 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Yeah but if you Listen to the Assitant chief of police since we do live in Upper St Clair these types of crimes would never happen in our township. But I think we all worry cause of you didn't we wouldn't be human. I spent 16 years in the field of EMS and I have had shoulder injuries, 16 teeth knocked out, 2 bulging disks and 8 pairs of glasses broke. An this was from the patients and 1 husband who didnt like the fact his wife stated he beat her. Violence happens anywhere and everywhere. Just to be vigial and have a plan of action. Sometimes bad things happen to good people for no reason. It happens
cc
8:59 pm on Monday, September 24, 2012
Trust me it can happen in Upper st Clair, Mt Lebanon, Bethel Park, Whitehall or any town in around here. Many people are sick mentally and need help. If you see a friend or family in distress ask what is wrong and be there for them.
durf
9:44 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
Banks get robbed and they have armed guards working in the front of some. You cant protect against everything. The best thing you can do is know your surroundings and keep your eyes open. Situational Awareness!
Tara Smith
11:56 pm on Sunday, September 30, 2012
This past year I was in AmeriCorp so when we were out on service projects in areas that you would always here on the news as being deemed of many shootings, etc. in that particular area, I would definitely be uneasy. But, we were in groups so I wasn't too worried. At the same time, my placement site was at a non-profit in S. Oakland and when the PITT Bomb Threats and the Western Psych shooting happened, I was kind of terrified to leave.
Matt A.
9:16 am on Monday, October 1, 2012
Tara I have to agree with you. My nephew was waiting in front of a bar in Oakland with a bunch of friends to get in and was shot in the leg by a drive by shooting. Someone got the license plate number and they were picked up in North Side about an hour later in a stolen car. The people in the car had shot at and hit 6 people and lucky no one lost their lives but it was a scary situation for not only my nephew but all that were hit.
Tara Smith
12:15 pm on Sunday, October 21, 2012
Matt I apologize for not seeing this until now. I am so sorry to heat that happened. I hope they are okay! :( You know, this can happen anywhere, I know I used an example as "on the news as being deemed of many shootings;" that's not always the case though. Even where I'm working now, I don't always feel the safest there after hours, I work at Walgreens but it's just the area in which it's surrounded by, I hate walking at night. Someone told me that usually don't let people walk back by themselves or someone is usually able to give a ride, not the case tuesday night, I almost cried walking back. I can't stand it.