Analyzing risk after Jacksonville Landing shooting

Local expert provides tips for organizations, businesses

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Risk is inherent in everyday life, and human beings take risks every day, simply by getting out of bed in the morning.

Common risks at home, like falling in the shower or setting fire to the kitchen, are typically mitigated by using floor and shower mats, cook timers and fire alarms. When heading off to work, common risks exist like tripping over a street curb or getting in an accident. These risks are mitigated by walking with your head up and eyes focused, rather than reading from a cell phone or being unable to hear because of blaring headphones.    People take risks and mitigate risks every day without much thought. It is expected that parents will manage risk to their dependent children, individuals will manage risk to themselves and companies will be responsible in managing risk to their employees, facilities, operations and reputation.  

The shootings at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and Chicago Pizza in Jacksonville are stark reminders of the safety and security risks facing businesses and individuals. Today’s changing risk landscape requires individuals to be more mindful of risks in general, and organizations to be more diligent in their strategic and practical efforts to mitigate risk. 

Over the years and in the wake of several tragic incidents, regulatory mandates directed organizations to establish risk mitigation practices and emergency response plans. Too often these were hastily created in an effort to be compliant. Too often these policies and plans sit on a shelf collecting dust rather than being reviewed and updated to consider new and emerging risks.

Who would have thought a North Carolina farmer could essentially shut down Washington D.C. for days?  It happened. Who would have thought someone would be found in the middle of a street with a bomb strapped to his chest? It happened. Who would have thought that someone would open fire on the campuses of Virginia Tech and Florida State, and on the grounds of too many elementary, middle and high schools? And yet it happened.

Who would have thought that a video game competition would become the scene of another horrific mass shooting? It happened, and this time it happened in our community, and it happened as a community of gaming enthusiasts looked on from around the country and maybe even around the world. When the game competitors put on their headsets and sat down to compete, in all probability they did not consider or anticipate they would be targets and victims of violence, previously experienced only through a video game controller. 

The looming question is, how do we mitigate the risks and prevent future incidents? This is not an easy or simple question to answer, but there are a few things that are critical to answering the question.

First, it is important to really understand risk to effectively manage risk. Risk is made up of both vulnerabilities and threats. Vulnerabilities may be more plentiful than threats because a discussion of vulnerabilities considers the possibilities of harm and hazards to people, places, structures and venues, and includes consideration of both the physical and emotional toll. All potential vulnerabilities should be explored, identified, considered and assessed. 

A threat is different than a vulnerability. A threat is much more specific. A threat is a known, intended, hostile or damaging action. Knowing about an intended act provides for a more straightforward discussion of existing and needed preventative security and risk mitigation measures. Think about large meetings. It is now common for the host to address the “housekeeping issues” at the start of meeting, advising attendees the location of exits, outside gathering points and a call-in number, website or app available to assist in the event of a crisis incident. 

Matrixes are a good option for identifying, assessing and documenting risk mitigation efforts, and a number of assistive technologies exist to support risk mitigation and crisis response. Like it or not, today’s reality demands risk be a part of everyday planning for individuals, organizations and event planners and keeping with the motto of “hoping for the best but planning for the worst.”

Start by considering these tips:

 

For organizations

·       Develop a formal risk mitigation process.

·       Assess risk for every event hosted or sponsored, internally or externally.

·       Establish event-specific security standards.

·       Use assistive technology in risk assessments.

·       Make employees aware of the risks as well as safety and security procedures.

·       Encourage all employees to have heightened awareness.

 

For Individuals

·       Be aware of your surrounding — look — listen — assess — plan.

·       Know your exit options and have an exit plan.

·       Run or hide — leave personal items behind.

·       Keep hands visible to law enforcement.

 

A Ponte Vedra resident, Toni Chrabot is the CEO of Risk Confidence Group LLC and a retired FBI Special Agent with over 20 years in risk, security and safety planning.