Back to Facility Manager
Contents
Back to
Home |
“Recent events at Virginia Tech … demonstrate that threats aren’t always
tied to sources outside our homeland,” says Harold Hansen, director,
Life Safety & Security, IAAM. Photo by John McCormick, courtesy of
Virginia Tech Library Services.
By Helen Pitts
Thirty-three dead. Nearly 30 more
wounded. The numbers associated with the deadliest one-man shooting
rampage in modern U.S. history are staggering.
The tragic loss of life that occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech,
April 16, will live in infamy for years to come. The perpetrator of this
horrendous act wasn’t an unknown terrorist. He was one of the
university’s own students. Cho Seung-Hui methodically shot his victims
in two separate attacks, two hours and a half-mile apart, before turning
one of his weapons upon himself and taking his own life.
Lingering Questions Spotlight Security
As the media quickly descended on the campus and focused the world’s
attention on the tragedy, the response by university officials in the
initial hours following the incident came under intense scrutiny. The
common question that was posed by reporters and echoed by the nation
carefully watching their news reports: “Why did the university delay in
issuing a warning to students?”
In the days that followed, additional information about the shooter’s
alleged struggle with mental illness came to light, sparking ongoing
debate and speculation about the role of those charged with public
safety. Today, many are continuing to ask, “What steps could have been
taken in advance by local law enforcement that were aware of his
troubled past to potentially avert this gunman’s murderous rampage?”
 |
The new four-hour ViSAT
training program provides hands-on instruction, as well as
guidelines on how to interpret the summary report. |
Terrorism: Not
on My Watch
These and other lingering questions continue to focus the spotlight
sharply on public safety and security, and have many facility managers
asking, “What if something like this happens on my watch?” It could,
says Harold Hansen, director, Life Safety & Security, International
Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM). “It’s not a matter of if a
crisis will occur, but rather when,” he says.
The tragedy at Virginia Tech exemplifies the need for facility managers
to assess threats to their own venues and be prepared to respond,
according to Hansen. “Terrorism comes in many forms, and, unfortunately,
it is often homegrown,” he says. “Recent events at Virginia Tech,
Columbine High School, and the Oklahoma City federal building all
demonstrate that the threats aren’t always tied to sources outside our
homeland. The face of terrorism could be an estranged spouse that comes
to your arena looking for revenge during a sold-out playoff game, or a
disgruntled convention center employee who compromises food safety
during a political fundraising dinner.”
Get Prepared
with ViSAT
While it may not be possible to avert every crisis situation, assessing
a facility’s vulnerability to threats in advance and leveraging the
Vulnerability Identification Self-Assessment Tool (ViSAT) for
preparedness can aid in response when such an event occurs.
The goal of ViSAT is to raise the level of security preparedness in
public assembly facilities across the nation and to establish a solid
infrastructure of protection for the industry. The process, a joint
effort between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and IAAM,
was developed in conjunction with IAAM’s Best Practices for Safety and
Security.
IAAM, through a DHS grant program, has offered instruction to guide
facility managers through the ViSAT software for nearly two years at
association-sponsored events, including the Academy for Venue Safety &
Security (AVSS). Response has been positive, with many facilities using
the sessions to kick-start their facility’s vulnerability assessment
process.
ViSAT Training:
What’s New
To encourage additional participation by those who
might not have been able to previously participate and offer additional
insight into the benefits of the ViSAT process, IAAM has expanded the
training program’s curriculum and is taking it on the road,says Hansen.
Facilities also can contact IAAM and request to host the training program in
their area.
The new training program was launched in conjunction with the combined IAAM
District 4, 6 and 7 meeting, April 13, in Las Vegas, Nev. A second session
in conjunction with the combined District 2 and 3 meeting in St. Charles,
Mo., followed on May 19. “Every facility is a potential target, no matter
where it’s located,” Hansen says. “Our goal with ViSAT is to empower IAAM
members. By enabling them to gain an understanding of their facility’s
strengths, weaknesses, and vulnerabilities to terrorism, and take action,
they’ll be better equipped to respond.”
The new four-hour training program is broken into several modules that
review risk management for public assembly facilities and provide best
practices on how participants can apply these principles at their home
facility. The training provides guidance on how use the seven areas of
facility preparedness in conducting a vulnerability assessment:
• Security plans, policies and procedures
• Security force and security awareness training
• Cargo, personnel, and vehicle access control
• Physical security assets
• Security technology equipment
• Communications security
• Information security
Hands-on instruction on how to complete ViSAT
software is still provided, along with recommendations for submitting the
completed ViSAT to DHS. Guidelines on how to interpret the summary report
also are included.
Also new to the program is discussion of federal guidelines included in the
Protective Critical Infrastructure Information Act. The legislation imposes
restrictions on public disclosure of ViSAT information and limits exposure
to legal liability.
|
 |
 |
|
More Sessions to
Come
Additional
training sessions are planned at IAAM district meetings and
will be conducted during national association-sponsored
events throughout the summer and fall. To schedule a session
or learn more about the new training contact IAAM
headquarters or Harold Hansen directly at (773) 973-2049 or
harold-hansen@sbcglobal.net. |
|
Applying Lessons
Learned
Elizabeth O'Hara-Walker, administrator, Tucson Convention Center,
Tucson, Ariz., was among those attending the inaugural training session
in Las Vegas with a goal of understanding “the full process.” A
department of the city, the Tucson Convention Center is a multi-venue
facility that includes an arena, music hall, ballroom,
convention/exhibit space and the Leo Rich Theatre, and is currently
beginning an expansion.
“Safety in our organizations is one of the most important aspects of
everyday business, but it’s also one of the most difficult aspects in
which to succeed,” says O'Hara-Walker. “I do believe that this industry
is very diligent about safety, but anything that can help make our
facilities safer is definitely worth the effort.
“As the process was explained, VISAT is definitely a tool that will
bring out both strengths and weaknesses in our facility,” adds
O'Hara-Walker. “The risks that we all face are never going to be gone,
but we should be doing everything we can to minimize those risks. In
speaking with others that have taken the training in the past, I believe
that this new training process is much better and it will have a
positive impact on the future of the VISAT program.
“ While O'Hara-Walker says her facility is considering next steps, she
does plan to share lessons learned about the ViSAT process with her
counterparts at the Tucson Convention Center as well as local first
responders.
“My initial plan is to include all the stakeholders who have a part in
keeping everyone safe,” she says. “I would hope to have the police,
fire, the City of Tucson Risk Management and our staff involved in this
process. In bringing all of the possible experience to the table we
would have the best outcome.”
Helen Pitts is the founder
and principal of Helen Pitts & Associates Communications, and served as 2006
AVSS faculty member. The Texas-based strategic communications consulting
firm specializes in crisis communications planning, training and response. |
|
