UF Helps Whirlpool Conduct Full-Scale ‘Active Shooter’ Drill
The Whirlpool manufacturing plant in Findlay, Ohio recently conducted a full-scale drill simulating an “active shooter” workplace violence situation. The drill was conducted Thursday, April 19, and has included subsequent sessions to evaluate strengths, weaknesses and opportunities help best ensure the safety of all who work there.
The plant’s environmental health and safety (EHS) group, and Workplace Safety Initiative team consulted with The All Hazards Training Center at the University of Findlay to build, coordinate and execute the drill. Whirlpool Corporation is the first business this size in Hancock County and surrounding areas to conduct this type of training and drill.
More than 100 personnel from city, county and state law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency medical response, other public service offices, and Whirlpool were on site to perform the exercise. Employees from a designated section f the plant helped to act out a shooting scenario and more than 1,100 employees existed the building within a few short minutes. Law enforcement officers and first responders entered the facility as though there were a “real-world” emergency. Normal protocols and procedures were followed during the drill, and officers carried simulated weapons.
“The exercise included months of planning and training, and the main exercise took just under an hour to complete,” said Tait Metz, EHS lead at the plant. “Immediately afterward the core group began our tabletop exercise to really look closely at what worked and what we could have done better. So now the work continues to build out the most effective planning possible based on the huge learning opportunity this drill provided.”
About Whirlpool Corporation
Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, with approximately $21 billion in annual sales, 92,000 employees and 70 manufacturing and technology research centers in 2017. The company markets Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Consul, Brastemp, Amana, Bauknecht, Jenn-Air, Indesit and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or find us on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.
Contacts:
Cathy Gerber, Communications/Community Relations
Whirlpool Corp., Findlay Operations
419-423-6127
Catherine_e_gerber@whirlpool.com
Randy Van Dyne, Assistant Vice President/Executive Director
The All Hazards Training Center, The University of Findlay
419-434-4572
vandyne@findlay.edu