Disaster and Emergency Management - Essay Example

Disaster and Emergency Management Module 8: Manmade Hazards and Disasters: Workplace Violence, Terrorism and Civil Disorder 1. Describe typical pre-event, event, and post-event aspects of workplace violence. Workplace violence is a type of threat or an act of violence against a person. Workplace violence is not limited to the workplace but people tend to follow it outside the premises of the workplace. It can be an act of sexual assault or other criminal activity. Most workplace violence cases are being reported to victimize the women. It has been reported that about 2 million people across the United States. Workplace violence pros a higher risk to some of the workers likes the workers that are dealing with public affairs, law enforcement workers, community workers, medical staff and taxi drivers. However, workplace violence may impact the other workers. The bank workers that exchange money, transportation workers and workers those work alone during night shift may have reduced immunity against the workplace violence (Mediate.com, 2013). Pre-Event aspect of the workplace violence deals with the aspects that are prior to the assault. These aspects include the inequality; improper behavior of fellow workers, potential objects that can become a tool for any assault. Employers can minimize the workplace violence event by minimizing the pre-event aspects of the workplace violence. Placing cameras for monitoring and maintaining high security come in the pre-event aspects. Event aspects of the workplace violence deal in condition of assault. In case of assault one must be trained to deal with the workplace violence. Enabling alarm bells and maintaining the security staff will reduce the impact of the event of the workplace violence. Easy escape passage should also be provided in case of assault. Post-Event aspects of workplace violence are the punishment of the culprit by the employers and the by the law. There should be tough punishment for the culprits, so that no one in a workplace environment should think to try any act of assault. 2. Discuss three occupations which are among the most vulnerable to workplace violence and why. The three occupations that are most vulnerable to workplace violence are the law enforcement agents or police officers, security guards or security agents are most vulnerable to the workplace violence. As police officers are there to protect the other citizens from any criminal activity, they are likely come to come across the workplace violence. It is more likely for the professions that deal with the general public affairs and interaction to be in workplace violence situation as compared to professions (Mediate.com, 2013). Visiting nurses are also vulnerable the most. Most reported cases of workplace violence victimize the women. Sexual assault, sexual abuse and sexual harassment are some crimes that victimize women the most, when considering the workplace violence. Taxi drivers work day and night to earn bread for the family. Taxi drivers work alone and thus vulnerable to violent attacks (Dol.gov, 2013). 3. Compare the London train bombings in 2005 and the train bombing that occurred in Madrid, Spain in March 2004. The London Train bombing in 2005 and Madrid (Spain) train bombing in March 2004 nominated a terrorist group “Al-Qaida”. The London train bombing took 39 person’s life and injured about 700 people in the total of four incidents. Three bombs were detonated in the train at various locations at about 8:50 and the fourth incident of bomb explosion happened after an hour of the train explosions. All of the attacks were done by suicidal bombers that are the permanent citizens of the United Kingdom. The terrorist choose the busiest underground train to attack and preferred busiest office hours to attack the train. All bombers died in the incidents. The terrorists started their journey from Leeds and travelled to Luton where they collected the bombs packed in their back packs. The four attackers boarded different trains from the King’s Cross Station. One boarded the eastbound train, one west bound train and other on the south bound train. After some time, nearly at 8:50, an explosion at Russell Square that ended in killing 26 persons and injuring about 340 persons. Another explosion at same time struck Aldgate and Edgware that in total killed about 13 people and injured about 330 people (Ray, 2013). The train explosions that occurred in Madrid is March 2004 were of much severe nature as compared that of the London train explosion. The incident of Madrid killed about 1991 people and injured about 2000 people. Similar timings as that of the London train explosions were chosen to perform the explosions. Morning rush hours were selected to attack the trains to kill as many people as possible. During the investigation, it was found that “Al-Qaida” was responsible for the harsh act. 10 bombs were exploded with a mobile detonator in four trains during the busiest hours in the three major Madrid Railways station. The explosion were very severe and of much harsher nature (History.com, 2013). There are many similarities in both of the train incidents of London train bombings and the bombings in the Madrid. Both incidents involve the same militant group in the bombing and both incidents are impact of the anti-terrorism policy of the UK and Spain. Both the countries supported the war against Iraq. After the train bombing in Madrid, Spanish troops were called back from the Iraq. 4. A terrorist attack occurred in Mumbai, India in November 2008. Discuss the: a. Events that preceded the attack. The Terrorist attack that occurred in Mumbai, India in November 2008 is the retaliation of the demolition of the Babri Mosque in 1992. Since then the Islamic Militants coordinated many bombings in Mumbai. 13 bombs attacks in Mumbai on March 12 killed about 257 people and injured a sum of 700 people. A bomb taken life of two and injured 28 people on December 6th 2002 in Gathkopar. An explosion of bomb planted in a bicycle took a life of one and injured 25 beside Vile Parle Station on January 27th 2003. An explosion of plated bomb in a train took life of 10 and injured 70 people. Two blasts had taken life of 44 people and injured 150 people. One bomb exploded near the Gateway of India and other near the Zaveri Bazaar on August 25th 2003. Seven simultaneous blasts in 11 minutes took life of 209 people and injured about 700 people. These bombs were planted on the Suburban Railway in Mumbai (Longwarjournal.org, 2013). b. The group that carried out the attack. According to the Indian police and Indian intelligence agencies, the Mumbai attacks and all the other previously planned attacks in Mumbai are carried out by renowned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (Spiegel, 2011). However, “Students Islamic Movement of India” (SIMI) also considered being involved in planning and executing the plans. Indian Agencies also blame the Pakistan’s Intelligence agency (ISI) to be involved in the Mumbai Bombings (News.bbc.co.uk, 2013). c. The selection of the date of the attack. On November 26th, 2008, ten in a speed boat reached the Colaba, Mumbai. They hijacked an Indian fishing ship that was illegally fishing in the Pakistan’s Boarders. The Crew members of the ship were killed except the captain of the ship. With the help of the captain, ten militants reached the Mumbai shore and moved towards their targets. The date of the attack was 26/11 and depicts the similar case of World trade center attach 9/11 and in case of Madrid Train bombings in 3/11 and London train bombings attacked in 7/7 (Longwarjournal.org, 2013). d. Nature of the attack. The attacks were coupled by gun shell fires besides the use of bombs and grenades. The attackers attacked and captured eight locations. These locations include Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Leopond Café, Oberoi Trident Hotel, Cama Hospital, Mumbai Chabad House, Nariman House, Metro Cinema and Rail Terminus. These attacks lasted on 29th November. On 26th November an explosion of bomb was also reported at Mazagoan. Till the morning of the 28th November all the location except the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel were cleared. On 29th November, Taj Mahal hotel was also cleared during the operation of “Operation Black Tornado” (Boston.com, 2013). e. Losses that were suffered as a result of the attack. The Mumbai attacks of 26th November took life of 164 people and injured more than 308 people. Besides the human loss, there was an immense economic loss as the stock exchange was closed due to the dramatic events. References Ray, Michael. (2013). London bombings of 2005 (terrorist attacks, United Kingdom). [online] Retrieved from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1696348/London-bombings-of-2005 [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Boston.com (2013). Mumbai under attack. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/mumbai_under_attack.html [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Dol.gov (2013). U.S. Department of Labor -- HRC - DOL Workplace Violence Program. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.dol.gov/oasam/hrc/policies/dol-workplace-violence-program.htm [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. History.com (2013). Terrorists bomb trains in Madrid — History.com This Day in History — 3/11/2004. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/terrorists-bomb-trains-in-madrid [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Longwarjournal.org (2013). Analysis: Mumbai attack differs from past terror strikes - The Long War Journal. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/11/analysis_mumbai_atta.php [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Mediate.com (2013). Workplace Violence: Paranoid or Prepared?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.mediate.com/articles/larsen.cfm [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. News.bbc.co.uk (2013). BBC NEWS: World: South Asia: As it happened: Mumbai attacks 27 Nov. [online] Retrieved from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/7752003.stm [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Spiegel, A. (2011). Heroes Of The Taj Hotel: Why They Risked Their Lives. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.npr.org/2011/12/23/144184623/mumbai-terror-attacks-the-heroes-of-the-taj-hotel [Accessed: 11 Dec 2013]. Read More