Editor's Note: When we planned the January issue of the HUB EDGE, we could not imagine that the first few days of the new year would bring devastating wildfires to Southern California that continue to pose a threat to the region. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this unimaginable catastrophe, and we are working closely with clients and the community. If you need assistance, please visit our Wildfire Crisis Resource Centre for access to up-to-date resources and recovery resources to help navigate these challenging times.

The current situation in Los Angeles is a stark reminder of the importance of reassessing and strengthening your company's physical safety plan. Whether the safety threat is catastrophic weather related, geopolitical risks workplace violence, safeguarding employees requires organizations to proactively prepare for potential risks, which can happen at any time.

Unfortunately, incidents that threaten workplace safety are more common than many businesses realize. Did you know that 60% of employees reported experiencing an emergency at work due to severe weather, and one in four have experienced workplace violence?¹ This is a huge opportunity for businesses that want their employees to feel safe and to set themselves apart from other employers.

Failing to plan appropriately can have devastating consequences not only for employees but also for a business’ reputation and financial stability. After a disaster, about 25% of businesses do not reopen², and incidents of workplace violence have been estimated to cost employers about $120 billion ($C172 billion) a year.³

Take a Proactive – Not Reactive – Approach

When employers know the risks and make a safety plan before an incident occurs, they can take quick and decisive action in the face of a catastrophe, instead of reacting after the fact.

Businesses located in areas prone to natural disasters should have site-specific emergency response and disaster recovery plans that can be quickly implemented when needed. All managers and employees should be made aware of these plans and how the organization prioritizes employee safety before, during and after a catastrophic event. Employees should see how businesses value their safety and security.

When it comes to workplace violence, many employers assume active shooter incidents are the most common threat. The reality is weapons were not involved in nearly 80% of nonfatal workplace violence incidents, and offenders possessed a firearm in only 5% of such cases.⁴ Workplace violence occurs in many other forms, including physical violence, harassment, intimidation or other threatening disruptive behaviour that creates a hostile work environment.⁵ Employers need a comprehensive workplace violence prevention and response plan for any type of violence that could occur — not only firearm violence. This could include incidents between clients/customers, worker/interoffice conflicts, intimate partner violence and potential extremist ideologies.

The HUB EDGE

Workplace safety programs are easier to develop and implement than you may think. The following is a guide to help develop a program and work effectively with your broker to ensure your employees are truly protected.

• Create a plan that includes:

• Establishing a dedicated safety team within your organization that works closely with outside crisis management and business continuity teams to prevent unforeseen events and protect employees, property and intellectual property from risk.

• Training for employees on how to recognize, report and respond to physical safety issues, including workplace violence. The training should include information on conflict resolution, de-escalation techniques and where to go for support when needed.

• Implementing and enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for workplace violence that clearly outlines what behaviours are considered unacceptable and what disciplinary action will be taken if the policy is violated.

• Utilize the expertise of your insurance broker. Developing a workplace safety program may sound like a daunting and overwhelming task for many companies who lack in-house expertise. However, as risk management professionals, a best-in-class insurance broker can identify potential workplace safety exposures and recommend steps that can be taken to mitigate those risks. Your broker should also have access to crisis management resources that can help your organization respond to any unfortunate event that may occur. Consider the following real-life example of how a specialized insurance advisor can be a critical resource:

• A large retail gas station/convenience store in the Midwest of the U.S. was dealing with disruptions due to shoplifting by various groups, including organized retail theft teams. Their broker team, which consisted of a former Fortune 50 retail loss prevention professional and certified fraud examiner, conducted a root cause analysis to help them better understand the specific drivers of their safety and security issues. Working together, they developed new corporate policies to drive effective prevention and response strategies that included a “transient control plan” and “self-checkout theft prevention policy.”

By re-evaluating existing protocols and implementing proactive measures, organizations can better prepare for risks and foster a safer work environment in 2025.

¹ Construction News and Review, “The 2024 State Of Employee Safety,” Oct. 1, 2024.
² FEMA, “Stay in Business after a Disaster by Planning Ahead,” Oct. 30, 2018.
³ Workplace Violence Prevention Institute, “The Many Costs of Workplace Violence,” June 3, 2019.
⁴ Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Indicators of Workplace Violence, 2019,” July 2022.
⁵ Occupational Safety and Health Administration, “Workplace Violence,” accessed Dec. 10, 2024.