JANUARY 2016
SHATTER PROOF CAMPUS 7 Tips to Keep Students Safe
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DESIGNING OUT CRIME
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Longwood Security | January 2016
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WELCOME BACK TO LONGWOOD SECURITY ONLINE. We hope you and your family had a wonderful holiday season and now it’s time to look forward. 2016 will be an exciting year for Longwood Security as we continue to Make a Difference, Everyday™ for our valued clients, partners and communities. In our January issue, we highlight the unspoken issue of workplace violence in healthcare. We’ve also provided resources for administrative policy makers to combat this issue. We also explore ‘designing out crime’ concepts—cost-effective steps property owners and management companies can take to decrease crime in their neighborhoods. And with students returning to campus, our cover story lays out 7 tips to ensure students’ safety and protect against an ugly incident from shattering the semester. We hope you enjoy our second installment of Longwood Security ONLINE and, as always, we welcome your feedback and comments via email and on social media.
Jack Connelly President & CEO
Longwood Security Services, Inc. page 3
Longwood Security | January 2016
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CONTENTS
President & CEO
John (Jack) T. Connelly, Esq., CPP
COVER STORY
Securing Campus pg. 18 with video
Vice President of Operations Troy C. Santarlasci
CFO
Mark Norton
Human Resources Melissa Palmieri
IT
Frank Freedman
HEALTHCARE
Hospital Violence pg. 8
Executive Administrator/ Photo Contributor Shawn Quinn
www.longwoodsecurity.com
RESIDENTIAL
Designing Out Crime pg. 14
429 Newbury St. Boston, MA. 02115 p. (617) 735-0600 f. (617) 735-0619 Š2016 | All Rights Reserved. Longwood Security Services, Inc. page 5
Longwood Security | January 2016
INCOME TAX DOWN, MINIMUM WAGE UP On January 1st, the Massachusetts state income tax decreased from 5.15% to 5.10% while the state minimum wage rose to $10/hr. Massachusetts and California have the highest minimum wages in the country.
The jump in minimum wage and the EITC will be welcomed by the state’s low-income earners, and deservedly so, but the hidden good news is the decrease in the state income tax.
A 2002 law set Massachusetts on a Nearly 500,000 Massachusetts workers course to 5% income tax but was tied will see a modest boost in their payto economic indicators that showed checks, according to the Massachusetts the state economy growing. Gov. Baker Budget and Policy Center, a left-leaning announced in December that the ecothink tank. nomic triggers were reached and, thus, the decline in the income tax. The state earned income tax credit (EITC) will also see a jump, rising from The state’s economy is growing and 15 percent of the federal credit to 23 that news should be welcomed by all. percent of the federal credit.
NARCAN AVAILABLE AT DISCOUNTED PRICE Cities and towns across Massachusetts can purchase the life-saving overdose reversal drug naloxone, or Narcan for short, at a discounted price. “More and more of our police and fire are responding to overdoses, and it’s important they have affordable access to this critical drug,” Attorney General Maura Healey said. “We are pleased to work with the Department of Public Health to implement this program immediately, and I am deeply grateful to Teleflex for its
generous contribution to the fund, which will help us save even more lives in Massachusetts.” First responders can buy naloxone at $20 per dose, which includes the atomization delivery device.
NEW GUN MEASURES
NEWS MLK JR. DAY OF SERVICE AND CELEBRATION TRIBUTE Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra will perform classical music, spirituals, freedom songs, a sing-along and three speeches in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., on January 18.
President Obama unveiled new gun control measures that will expand background checks, specifically requiring individuals who sell firearms to register as licensed gun dealers. Previously, small sellers were not required to keep sales records.
The event will be held at Fanuiel Hall, is free and starts 1 p.m. with doors opening at 12 p.m. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service and Celebration Tribute Concert is in collaboration with the Museum of African American History and the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture.
“Every time I think about those kids, it gets me mad,” Obama said, referring to Sandy Hook Elementary, where a gunman murdered 26 school kids and educators. “And by the way, it happens on the streets of Chicago every day,” he added. A Quinnipiac University poll in December found 89% overall support for expanded background checks—84% in gun-owning households, 87% of Republicans, 86% of independent and 95% of Democrats. page 7
Longwood Security | January 2016
HEALTHCARE
HOSPITAL VIOLENCE: How to Diagnose and Treat
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Longwood Security | January 2016
H
ealthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, administrative staff—experience serious incidents of workplace violence four times more often than other industries, according to data collected from 2002 to 2013 by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While that number alone should sound the alarm to hospital policy makers, the true extent of healthcare workplace violence is much more widespread. That’s because ‘serious workplace violence’ only accounts for incidents that require days off for the injured worker to recuperate. “Too many healthcare workers face threats and physical violence on the job while caring for our loved ones,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Dr. David Michaels.
sources.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health defines “It is not right that these valuable work- workplace violence as “violent acts, including physical assaults and threats ers continue to be injured and someof assault, directed toward persons at times killed on the job. Most of these work or on duty.” But many who have injuries are preventable and OSHA is providing these resources to help com- studied the issue lobby to include verbat these incidents and raise awareness bal violence—threats, verbal abuse, that violence does not need to be part hostility, harassment—as well. of the job.” So who is most likely to commit an To combat workplace violence and ulti- act of workplace violence? Virtually mately eradicate the problem requires anyone inside a healthcare setting is a candidate—patients, visitors, intruders, policy makers to understand the naand even other coworkers. Examples ture of the violence, the costs and the include coworker bullying, a distraught
HEALTHCARE in the $27,000 to $103,000 range. One can even make a correlation between caregiver stress and injury to a higher risk of medication errors and infections. Factoring in the mental effects, the cost of healthcare workplace violence is found throughout the providers operation. Clearly, healthcare providers must work to reduce workplace violence to at least other industry levels. The unique family member becoming abusive or nature of hospigang violence. tals make reduction much more The effects of healthcare workplace vio- complex, though, lence are largely perceived in a physical than other induscontext. However, the financial pain of tries. workplace violence can severely impact a provider’s balance sheet. The obvious first step is hiring a One hospital system had 30 nurses who security company required treatment for violent injuries with extensive in a particular year, at a total cost of experience in $94,156 ($78,924 for treatment and healthcare en$15,232 for lost wages), according to vironments. The OSHA. Many healthcare professionals next step is to even leave the field altogether as a reincorporate a sult of workplace violence. It’s estimat- workplace vioed that the cost of replacing a nurse is lence prevention
VIOLENCE RISK FACTORS — • PEOPLE WHO HAVE A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE OR WHO MAY BE DELIRIOUS OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS • WORKING ALONE • POOR LIGHTING IN HALLWAYS OR EXTERIOR AREAS • LACK OF MEANS OF EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION • LACK OF TRAINING
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program. OSHA has been actively working to educate healthcare providers on steps to reduce workplace violence, having updated its “Guidelines for Preventing Workplace Violence for Healthcare and Social Service Workers” earlier this year. OSHA also recently launched a new webpage, part of its Worker Safety in Hospitals website, which provides employers and workers with strategies and tools to reduce workplace violence in healthcare. According to OSHA, an effective workplace violence prevention program includes five components: • • • • •
Management commitment and worker participation Worksite analysis and hazard identification Hazard prevention and control Safety and health training Recordkeeping and program evaluation
Read more about the 5 components here. PROACTIVE PREVENTION Each healthcare facility faces its own set of unique challenges in the workplace violence context. OSHA’s roadmap to addressing healthcare work-
place violence is just that—a roadmap. It’s up to policy makers to craft its own programs using the roadmap as guidance. FOR EXAMPLE New Hampshire Hospital in Concord, New Hamp., a facility that treats patients with severe psychiatric conditions, took on workplace violence via labor/management meetings, adapting existing models to create a “Staying Safe” program, fostering dialogue and collaboration between staff and security, implementing daily safety briefings and creating a robust training program.
New Hampshire Hospital now helps other hospitals start their own violence prevention efforts. Providence Hospital—a 104-bed behavioral health facility in Holyoke, Mass.—has developed a written “culture of safety” policy that encourages staff to look for safety concerns and bring them forward, a “stop the process” policy that allows any employee to speak up if they feel uncomfortable with a situation, and a joint labor/management safety manual that describes hospital policies, employees’ rights, incident reporting tools, and other resources.
HEALTHCARE months and years with the higher incident rates of healthcare workplace violence driving that awareness. It’s simply sound policy for healthcare providers to create the safest and most comforting environment possible, regardless of the cost. Our doctors, nurses and hospital staff deserve nothing less. «
These are but two examples that work for these two facilities. These two examples show that with a willingness to address the problem and a culture of dialogue, progress can be made. The issue of workplace violence in healthcare will gain more attention in the coming page 13
Longwood Security | January 2016
RESIDENTIAL
DESIGN OUT CRIME
PRODUCED BY: LONGW
NING
WOOD SECURITY STAFF page 15
Longwood Security | January 2016
W
hat if you could influence a criminal’s decision making process before that person commits an offense? Sounds like mind control or some futuristic approach to crime prevention, right? Not quite. Turns out that property owners and managers can implement simple, preventative measures that will protect their property and residents while reducing overall crime in neighborhoods. Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a comprehensive approach to deterring criminal behavior through environmental design and its concepts are well accepted among law enforcement agencies and security professionals. CPTED, or ‘designing out crime,’ can be implemented in a multitude of ways, large and small. Some cities have incorporated ‘designing out crime’ principles on large scales, such as into development review processes before construction begins. Property management companies have done so on smaller scales, such as assessing existing buildings and altering spaces for greater security. For instance, the City of Los Angeles incorporates ‘designing out crime’ into its and planning and policing. Los An-
Natural surveillance CPTED concepts include using lig ficiently illuminates individuals’ faces;
Natural surveillance CPTED concepts include using short, l bright or dark and that sufficiently illuminates individuals’
geles wanted to go beyond traditional policing methods and find alternative ways to enhance public safety. ‘Designing out crime’ has been widely accepted in Los Angeles and relatively inexpensive to implement at $25,000. While Los Angeles is a macro example of CPTED, smaller companies and organizations can benefit, too. The New Year is an opportunity for property owners and management companies to do risk assessments and determined whether simple ‘designing out crime’ concepts can be applied. CPTED centers around three key concepts, are easy to replicate and are in-
RESIDENTIAL lighting. Natural access control concepts include designating a single entry point, restricting access to roofs and locking gates between front and backyards. Territorial reinforcement: The use of physical attributes to define ownership and separate public and private space.
ghting design that isn’t too bright or dark and that suf-
least-sight limiting fences; lighting design that isn’t too faces
terrelated. Natural surveillance: The placement of physical features, activities, and people in a way that maximizes visibility. Natural surveillance CPTED concepts include using short, least-sight limiting fences; lighting design that isn’t too bright or dark and that sufficiently illuminates individuals’ faces; or planting shrubbery that protects first floor windows from prying eyes. Natural access control: Restricting or encouraging people to come into a space through the placement of entrances, exits, fencing, landscaping, and
Territorial reinforcement concepts include active property maintenance that conveys presence, security visibility, motion sensor lights and even scheduling events in common areas. While there’s no substitute for a well trained and experienced security company, especially in high crime areas, the cumulative effect of incorporating CPTED concepts is safer communities, both perceptually and actually. 2016 is a new beginning for everyone—a time of resolutions and new commitments. Commit to transforming your property into the welcoming and secure environment residents expect. Don’t drop the ball. « page 17
Longwood Security | January 2016
COUNTDOWN TO SPRING SEMESTER IS ON...
PRODUCED BY: LONGWOOD SECURITY STAFF
EDUCATION
7 Tips and Reminders to Keep Your Students Safe page 19
Longwood Security | January 2016
P
rotecting students on campus smacks as an obvious responsibility of colleges and universities. However, complacency is a natural human trait. All it takes for a successful semester to be shattered is a lapse in safety protocol or gap in legal requirements. We’ve laid out 7 reminders and tips to keep students safe. The weeks leading up to their return and the first few days of the semester are the best to review policies and educate students. 7. PUBLISH CRIME STATISTICS The Clery Act mandates all colleges and universities to publish and distribute their Annual Campus Security Report by October 1st. Schools should notify students when they return to campus that the report is available to them either via a URL, if available, or how they can obtain a print copy. Schools should also make sure crime logs are available and up to date as the Clery Act requires the logs to have the most recent 60 days’ worth of information. Furthermore, the Act requires schools to give timely warnings of crimes that represent a threat to the campus community. 6. SMARTPHONE APPS Your students may already be aware
RapidSOS uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to send critic cell signals jam
of the multitude of safety apps available for smartphones or maybe not. Proactive schools can list and provide download links to select safety apps on the appropriate website, preferably alongside the Annual Campus Security Report. Some popular safety apps include: RapidSOS, which uses Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to send critical data to emergency dispatchers when cell signals jam. LiveSafe, a crowdsourced crime app that students can report incidents by attaching photos and videos and allows other students to view on a map. Kitestring lets students walking alone
EDUCATION to the student. If the student doesn’t response, the app will alert emergency contacts. 5. SAFE RIDE PROGRAMS While not all schools provide free, safe ride options, the service is particularly welcomed by young women on campus and its mere existence conveys to students that the school has their best interests at heart.
cal data to emergency dispatchers when
to enter destination information, including estimated arrival. If the arrival time elapses, a notification is first sent
Budgetary restraints may make a free ride share program unfeasible. However, schools and universities can seek partnerships with local transportation providers.
“Clery Act requires crime logs to have the most recent 60 days’ worth of information.” page 21
Longwood Security | January 2016
4. CAMPUS ALERT SYSTEM Colleges and universities should test their campus alert systems to confirm that timely warnings of campus threats can be disseminated effectively and efficiently. Additionally, the Clery Act requires emergency notifications when a significant emergency or dangerous situation is confirmed and presently occurring. Schools should test their versions of reverse 911 calls, campus-wide text and email notifications or anything communication service. The notification system must be well received by students with disabilities, including vision or hearing disabilities. 3. GOOD SAMARITAN LAW—DRUGS Massachusetts’ heroin epidemic is well documented and the drug is devastating kids of all races, gender and backgrounds. Yes, heroin is probably on your campus. Schools MUST make sure students are aware of Good Samaritan drug laws. Massachusetts General Law Section 34A provides people seeking medical assistance for someone experiencing a drug-related overdose with immunity from being charged or prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance. Schools should even go a step further
and provide resources for a student who feels they have been charged improperly under the law. 2. CAMPUS RAPE PREVENTION Students returning to campus after the holiday break will be excited to be back at school, see their friends and, yes, party. Colleges and universities must reiterate their zero tolerance policy for campus and date rape, especially when alcohol is involved. Male students should be reminded of the serious life consequences that result and that ‘No’ means no. Male students should also be encouraged to
speak up and not sit idly by when witnessing such situations. Female students should have safe and receptive channels to report incidents of sexual assault and rape. Those female students should also know that their reports will be investigated, thoroughly. 1. ACTIVE SHOOTER PLAN Every school should review and evaluate their Active Shooter Response Plan before students return from break. Since 2013, over half of all school shootings have occurred in the first six calendar months with 22 shootings in the month of January, alone.
EDUCATION While most every school across the country has held active shooter drills and revamped their response plans, the FBI recommends working with their community partners including first responders, emergency managers, public health officials, mental health officials and local governmental officials. The FBI lays out its recommendations in, “Guide for Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans.” You can view and download the pdf here. When classes start, students’ attention will be directed towards their studies and extracurricular activities. The first few days of the semester is the most effective time to capture the study body’s attention and remind them of the safety resources available to them. «
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Longwood Security | January 2016