Terrorists try to bully and pressurise a government, or its citizens, in order to make changes to further their political 
or social motives. The use of violence, or the threat of violence, is a common tactic employed to scare and intimidate. Some of these acts range from threats of physical harm and bomb scares; more recently terrorist have resorted to cyber-attacks as a means to terrorise people and organisations. One of the most common method for terrorists to create fear among the public and to get immediate publicity for their causes is the of use threats, through online mediums. This allows them to remain by and large anonymous to legal authorities, while spreading their message of hate to people worldwide. .
Terrorism was, once more, front and center in the minds of Americans, and a familiar question resurfaced: What can be done to protect our citizens? Most acts of domestic terrorism have focused on the workplace, and this makes workplace preparedness a priority. In a recent survey done by the University of Berkley – most acts of terrorism in the U.S. have occurred where and when people work, and because corporations and the workplace are identified high value targets of international terrorism. With this in mind, it is essential that interventions for preparedness, response and recovery occur in occupational settings.
And although, we may not be able to prevent a terroristic event, we can be vigilant, well-prepared and able to respond to such threats. Unfortunately, multiple emergency drills observed by the Workplace Preparedness for Terrorism Report have shown a general lack of preparedness on the part of companies. While preparedness can distract time and resources and perhaps lead to lowering of productivity. There are strong reasons why businesses must tackle this problem head-on.
One of the best ways to prepare for an attack is by having resilient contingency and response plans in place. Rich Mathews, Director of the National Centre for Security and Preparedness, states, “Companies with better response plans are a step ahead, while those who have not may find themselves in an unforgiving situation”. Companies also need to assess the possibility of ensuing Liability lawsuits and other factors like lack of insurance coverage and lack of productivity due to psychological stress.
Preparing for attacks of terrorism is your best bet in ensuring the safety and security of your employees and keeping your company in compliance with the latest safety and security regulations with the best interests in mind. Join Bo Mitchell in a live webinar on Preparedness for Tactical Responses to Counter Terrorism in the Workplace. Bo will provide expert insights on how to plan and prep your workplace for terrorism and essential tips to train your employees to handle such incidents.
