📢 Why Your Workplace Needs Violence Prevention & Active Shooter Training

Every organization — regardless of size or industry — should prioritize training for workplace violence and active shooter response.

1. Workplace Violence Is a Real, Growing Threat

Workplace violence isn’t just harassment or a bad argument — it ranges from verbal threats to physical assault and even homicide. It affects employees in all industries and can happen any time.

Key statistics:

• Over 57,600 nonfatal workplace violence incidents occurred in the U.S. in 2021-2022, requiring days away from work.

• There were 524 workplace homicides in 2022, the highest since 2011, with gunshot wounds accounting for 83% of those deaths.

• Annually, millions of Americans experience workplace violence, and about 2 million Americans are victims of workplace violence each year.

These numbers show that violence isn’t rare or isolated — it’s part of the risk landscape for modern workplaces.

2. Active Shooter Incidents Are Mostly Workplace-Related

While active shooter events in the news often involve schools or public venues, workplaces are a frequent setting:

📌 About 80% of active shooter incidents occur in workplaces or public access facilities.

These events are unpredictable, fast-moving, and over in minutes, often before law enforcement can arrive. That means employees’ actions in the first moments can dramatically affect outcomes.

3. Training Saves Lives

Simply having a plan isn’t enough — employees must practice it.

Here’s why training matters:

✅ Reduces Panic & Confusion
In a crisis, untrained individuals are more likely to freeze or make decisions that put them at greater risk. Training builds familiarity with options like Run, Hide, Fight, so people are prepared instead of paralyzed.

✅ Improves Survival Odds
Studies show that trained employees are significantly more likely to respond effectively and survive an active shooter event.

✅ Encourages Situational Awareness
Training helps people recognize warning signs — such as threatening behavior or early red flags — which can prevent violence before it escalates.

4. It’s Good for Business (and Your Bottom Line)

The cost of violence goes beyond human impact — it affects your operations too:

💸 Workplace violence has been shown to cost organizations billions annually in lost productivity, medical treatment, workers’ compensation, security upgrades, and legal liabilities. For example, healthcare systems alone incur over $18 billion per year in costs tied to violence and prevention measures.

Training and prevention programs can reduce severe outcomes, lower liability, and protect your people — which is both ethical and financially responsible.

5. Training Builds a Safer Workplace Culture

When employees see leadership investing in real safety measures — not just policies — it:

✨ Builds trust
✨ Encourages reporting of concerns
✨ Fosters teamwork in emergencies
✨ Improves overall morale and sense of security

Employees who feel safe are more productive and engaged — and that’s good for everyone.

Bottom Line

Workplace violence and active shooter events can’t be ignored. Training your people isn’t just “nice to have” — it’s essential:

📌 The threat is real and rising
📌 First responses matter most
📌 Training saves lives, reduces cost, and builds resilience

Investing in violence prevention and active shooter response training protects your most valuable asset — your people.