Design Highlights
- Active assailant incidents have surged by 70% from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024, indicating a persistent and escalating threat.
- Workplace violence, including homicides, accounted for 61.9% of fatal workplace injuries in 2023, showcasing the urgent need for safety measures.
- Kidnapping and ransom (K&R) risks are ongoing threats that require proactive risk assessments and crisis response plans for mitigation.
- Cybersecurity threats, including ransomware attacks and internal security breaches, have become integral concerns for corporate safety and data protection.
- Organizations must recognize that active assailant and K&R risks are established threats, necessitating immediate attention and a strong commitment to safety protocols.
In today’s corporate landscape, threats lurk around every corner. Let’s face it—active assailants and kidnapping and ransom (K&R) risks are not “emerging” threats anymore. They’re established. The statistics scream it. Active shooter incidents skyrocketed by 70% from 2015-2019 to 2020-2024. A whopping 223 incidents in just four years? Yikes.
Sure, incidents plummeted from 48 in 2023 to 24 in 2024, but let’s not kid ourselves—this isn’t a trend anyone should rely on. It’s a slight reprieve, not a solution.
The reality is that 58% of the 2024 incidents showed predatory behavior—meaning attackers were plotting their chaos. And those connections to victims? About 20% of shooters had ties to the locations they attacked. Employees, students—familiar faces turning tragic. It’s unsettling.
And don’t get too comfortable in your office just yet; 98 out of 229 incidents from 2019-2023 took place in commerce settings, where people are just trying to do their jobs.
Now, let’s talk workplace violence. In 2023, there were 740 fatal workplace injuries due to violent acts, with homicides making up a staggering 61.9%. That’s right—homicides accounted for 8.7% of all work-related fatalities. Healthcare workers are five times more likely to experience violence in their workplaces, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive safety measures across all sectors. Additionally, as cybercriminals increasingly target organizations, ransomware attacks remain a top concern, exacerbating the risks associated with workplace safety.
Workplace violence isn’t just a headline; it’s an epidemic. From physical assault to harassment, the risks are real, and they’re creeping into every sector, including healthcare.
Corporate cultures can’t keep pretending these threats are just rumors. The motives behind these attacks are as murky as a foggy morning. Anger and unresolved conflicts simmer beneath the surface. Employers need to wake up and revamp their definitions and protocols, reflecting the harsh realities of today’s world.
Top-down commitment to safety? Absolutely essential.
And don’t even get started on K&R risks. Persistent, not emerging, folks. They can target anyone—employees, executives, or business partners. The financial and reputational fallout can be catastrophic.
Companies need to invest in risk assessments and crisis response plans, or they’ll be left in the dust. Insurance for K&R? A smart move. Organizations should also consider stand-alone earthquake insurance policies for their physical locations, particularly in high-risk areas where business continuity could be threatened by seismic events. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Internal security threats are a ticking time bomb, often ignored. Disgruntled employees can open the floodgates for chaos. Cybersecurity threats? Ransomware is still king, with data breaches lurking like a bad habit.
In a world where threats are the new norm, corporations must get serious. Stop calling these risks “emerging.” They’re here, and they’re not going anywhere.
