Mississippi Security Dies of Gunshot Wound

[1stWatch]

McComb, Miss.:
Eric Ransom, 35, of Jackson died of a gunshot wound he received while working security at the now defunct Club Vegas on June 11. He was shot by an unnamed 25 year old suspect.

http://www.wreg.com/Global/story.asp?S=5094487&nav=menu93_2

[aka Bull]

It is issues like this that make one wonder how security companies stay in business when they take so little review over the potential danger they are placing their officers in.

I realize the companies are only looking to their profit margin, yet this is an area where better regulation of the industry would force companies to provide better equipment (body armor for instance) and training (domestic violence intervention) to their officers.

There are too many areas where officers are placed, like casinos or higher risk residential projects, wherein they are woefully inadequately prepared to deal with the problems they are going to face. I know many officers "just need a job" and have no idea of the risks they are placing themselves in and so can't, or won't, argue with the company (who'd probably just fire them and find a new recruit) to make them safer and better trained/equipped for their work environment.

One of the biggest concerns for improving the profession is forcing the companies to act more responsible in the employment of their employees

[N. A. Corbier]

I don't think we're ever going to get the state to require body armor. I mean, how many police departments actually make body armor optional? In this day and age?

OSHA says that there is no occupational hazard to gunfire for security guards and gaming agents. This means that OSHA does not require body armor to mitigate that occupational hazard. So, nobody can really force companies to provide armor.

Can they even force police departments, who DO have an occupational hazard to gunfire?

[aka Bull]

I don't think we're ever going to get the state to require body armor. I mean, how many police departments actually make body armor optional? In this day and age?

OSHA says that there is no occupational hazard to gunfire for security guards and gaming agents. This means that OSHA does not require body armor to mitigate that occupational hazard. So, nobody can really force companies to provide armor.

Can they even force police departments, who DO have an occupational hazard to gunfire?

Agreed, getting the state to require it is not going to happen. We can't count on OSHA, and likely no other government agency, to mandate this type of requirement. Unfortunately, we only have the ability to pressure from below to make our lot more survivable.

[1stWatch]

OSHA says that there is no occupational hazard to gunfire for security guards and gaming agents...

Really? A few weeks ago while I was driving a patrol car on a highway between Fort Worth and Dallas somebody shot my front windshield from another moving vehicle. Fortunately it didn't penetrate the windshield. God bless the makers of trilaminate glass panes. I guess one could make body armor out of windshields.