You think that you hear a loud bang or two over the music and machines, but aren't sure what's going on until you see a rush of co-workers heading towards the exit. You decide that there's probably some kind of a drill occuring and decide to follow them.
It's not until you are all jammed at the turnstile waiting to get out one by one that someone tells you what's happening: a co-worker, someone you all know, is inside, shooting at people.
Nobody thinks that they are ever going to have such a horrific scenario thrust upon them. If you worked at the Montgomery Main Post Office mail processing facility on December 1, 2011, this could have been you.
As we all know now, nobody was hurt, and the shooter was soon taken into custody.
But just because the event ended quickly and without injury or death does not mean that everything went perfectly.
Earlier this week, Postmarks discussed the incident with Postal Inspector Tony Robinson, who shared some of his insights into what happened that night so that all of us might be better prepared in the future.
Know your exits, alarms, and releases.
When you're preparing for any kind of a test, the best strategy for a successful outcome is to drill yourself on and learn the answers to all possible questions: knowing one answer alone (no matter how well you know that one answer) is not going to cut it.
"Whenever you go to a new workstation, immediately familiarize yourself with all of the exits and what it takes to release them," said Inspector Robinson.
During the Montgomery incident, many employees ran for the one point of building access with which they were familiar rather than heading towards the closest way out.
To worsen matters, at some exit points, employees wasted precious moments going out one by one though badge-accessed turnstiles until somebody arrived who knew the location of and how to work the emergency release.
Don't rely on the familiar.
When in a panic, it is common for people to do what is familiar to them rather than what is safest.
"Adrenaline kicks in, and people develop tunnel vision," said Inspector Robinson.
"They go to the entrance or exit that they have used the most rather than to the one closest to them. In some cases, going across a congested or dangerous area to get there."
Use that time during emergency drills to familiarize yourself with the unfamiliar. Make a mental map of the exits, releases, and alarms, and take every opportunity to review that internal blueprint.
Imprinting these images upon your brain is something that only you can do.
Robinson also recommends that every employee ask themselves this question: What would you do if your “normal” exit was blocked? Example: a car has crashed through the front of your building.
Develop a planned route and several alternatives.
What is the safest action in the plant might not be the safest thing to do if you work in an office space.
When in a panic, it is common for people to do what is familiar to them rather than what is safest.
"Adrenaline kicks in, and people develop tunnel vision," said Inspector Robinson.
"They go to the entrance or exit that they have used the most rather than to the one closest to them. In some cases, going across a congested or dangerous area to get there."
Use that time during emergency drills to familiarize yourself with the unfamiliar. Make a mental map of the exits, releases, and alarms, and take every opportunity to review that internal blueprint.
Imprinting these images upon your brain is something that only you can do.
Robinson also recommends that every employee ask themselves this question: What would you do if your “normal” exit was blocked? Example: a car has crashed through the front of your building.
Develop a planned route and several alternatives.
Alert others
"During the incident in Montgomery, some window clerks saw people rushing out but didn't leave their posts because they assumed that it was a drill," said Robinson.
Don't assume that others already know. Alert your hearing-impaired colleagues, call 911 if you can, and if you are in a supervisory position, activate the Postal Alert Notification System (PANS).
"During the incident in Montgomery, some window clerks saw people rushing out but didn't leave their posts because they assumed that it was a drill," said Robinson.
Don't assume that others already know. Alert your hearing-impaired colleagues, call 911 if you can, and if you are in a supervisory position, activate the Postal Alert Notification System (PANS).
What is the safest action in the plant might not be the safest thing to do if you work in an office space.
If
evacuation is impossible, which in many cases it will be, you will have to
shelter in place.
"In an office-type situation, often, barricading or locking one’s self in is the safest option. You want to avoid exposing yourself at all costs," Inspector Robinson said.
If you find yourself in this predicament, the most important thing is to make the room that you're in seem unoccupied. If you are in a group, it's important that you work as a team to turn off the lights, lock and barricade the door (if possible), make sure all cell phones are silenced, and to remain quiet and out of sight.
If you have 911 on the line and find yourself unable to talk, turn down your volume but leave the line connected so that emergency personnel can hear what's happening in your vicinity and can determine where you are located in the building.
Remain hidden and silent until you are sure that the voices you hear are coming from rescue personnel. Shooters have been known to attempt to lure victims by calling to them, and when rescuers initially enter the building, their first priority is going to be to deal with the shooter, not to care for the victims.
Some other points that Inspector Robinson says to keep in mind:
If you have 911 on the line and find yourself unable to talk, turn down your volume but leave the line connected so that emergency personnel can hear what's happening in your vicinity and can determine where you are located in the building.
Remain hidden and silent until you are sure that the voices you hear are coming from rescue personnel. Shooters have been known to attempt to lure victims by calling to them, and when rescuers initially enter the building, their first priority is going to be to deal with the shooter, not to care for the victims.
- After your escape, at rallying point, be aware of the potential for planted devices.
- Rallying points should not be right outside the building.
"OSHA still says that the postal service is one of the safest
places to work, but it’s not exempt from tragedy. As you go through drills, be
thinking so that if you ever have to be in a stressful situation, you can rely
on instinct," said Robinson.
