FACTS

Hazards associated with active shooter responses in the landscaping industry.

• Lack of Shelter or Cover: Landscaping work often occurs outdoors, where there may be limited options for taking cover or finding a secure location during an active shooter event.
• Limited Communication: Landscapers frequently work in teams spread out over large areas, which could make communication challenging during an emergency.
• Unfamiliarity with Emergency Procedures: Workers in the landscaping industry may not be as familiar with active shooter response procedures as those in other industries.
• Isolation: Landscapers often work in relatively isolated locations, such as parks, private properties, or remote sites, making it difficult for law enforcement or emergency responders to reach them quickly.
• Risk of Panic or Miscommunication: In a high-stress situation like an active shooter event, there is a risk of panic or miscommunication among workers, especially if they are not trained.
• Potential for Misidentification: Landscapers using tools or equipment might be mistaken for a threat by law enforcement if they are not clearly identified as workers during an active shooter response.

STATS

• Total Incidents: From 2000 to 2021, there were at least 433 active shooter attacks in the United States, with an average of more than one incident per week in 2021 alone.
• Casualties: 486 people were killed and an additional 557 were wounded in active shooter events in the U.S.
• Types of Locations: Active shooter incidents are not confined to schools; roughly 40% occur in commercial facilities (offices, factories, etc.), with 21% in schools and 23% in open commercial areas.
• Increasing Frequency: The frequency of active shooter incidents has been rising, with the average number of incidents increasing from about six per year in the early 2000s to 16 per year by the end of the study period
• Active shooter events are extremely rare in Canada, but they have occurred.
• Most active shooter attacks in the USA (approximately 249 out of 433) ended before police arrived.