Public Risk: Causes and Preventive Measures
Understand public risk, its origins, and essential prevention strategies to protect your company's employees and assets. A complete guide to safety in public environments.
· 6 minutos · assuntos gerais
Public risk refers to situations of violence that can occur in public spaces, endangering company facilities or assets and the physical integrity of people. In some contexts, particularly in Latin America, the workforce operates in an environment of social disjunctures that affect the productive sector. These new work realities result from cultural styles inherent to each country and the new work practices emerging therefrom.
A fundamental characteristic of public risk is human behavior with the intent to cause harm. It is, therefore, crucial to study the field of criminality and its psychology, given that new social conditions impact work environments and, specifically, the health of workers in organizations.
Causes of Public Risk
Several factors contribute to public risk, namely:
- Loss of values among new generations;
- Low formal job offers;
- Difficulty in accessing education;
- Social discontent, leading to protests and lack of response from governmental entities;
- Increase in corruption;
- Increase in poverty and inequality.
Countries wishing to intervene in public risk must recognize the importance of its management to improve quality of life, occupational health, adaptation to social crises, and the protection of their assets.
Preventive Measures to Control Public Risk
Organizations must identify threats according to the socio-labor environment in which they carry out their activities, in order to adopt measures appropriate to their economic situation. Companies must implement controls tailored to their needs, which can be basic or more strategic, the latter being mandatory for sectors more susceptible to these types of situations.
Basic Prevention Measures
Included in the emergency plan, basic measures include:
- Preparing personnel to act in high-risk situations (standard operating procedures);
- Secure communication channels and clear procedures;
- Safer transport alternatives;
- Psychosocial support for workers.
Other basic measures include:
- Secure communication channels;
- Collective response systems (mutual aid plans);
- Self-care protocols;
- Hiring protection services from competent entities.
Preventive Measures in Specific Situations
Preventive measures adapted to various situations exist:
- When driving: keep cars locked, do not leave valuables in plain sight (bags, computers), use known parking lots.
- When walking: walk in well-lit and busy areas, avoid walking with hands full, do not wear showy objects.
- On public transport: always keep your bag or backpack in sight and under control, avoid peak hours, do not wear valuables in plain sight.