DOE/EH-0401 --- Issue No. 94-07 --- 08/94

Seminar Addresses Crime an Personal Safety

Modifying behavior in little ways and acquiring a few skills can help deal with some of today's high profile crimes. During May of 1994; hundreds of Department of Energy (DOE) Headquarters employees learned some practical ways to protect themselves at safety seminars entitled; "Living Safely In A Dangerous World." The well received seminars were conducted by "Citizens Against Crime" (CAC).

Each year CAC; a private national corporation dedicated to "Saving Lives Through Education;" conducts personal safety seminars in over 50 cities nationwide. Around the country; speakers like Dr. Marie Benoit; Ph.D.; who conducted the DOE sessions; reach over 20;000 people per week.

The Secretary's Diversity Council and the Office of Human Resources and Administration (HR-82) sponsored the personal safety seminars which were presented in four different sessions on both May 10 and 19; 1994; in Germantown; MD; and Washington. The 500-plus attendees set several DOE seminar attendance records.

Dr. Benoit personally motivated attendees by using a combination of audience participation; humor; and role playing. Her presentation covered a number of potentially dangerous situations and offered practical tips to help handle them safely; including the following:

  • Ways to protect your family by choosing a safe weapon.

  • Ways to avoid; escape or survive the crime of rape.

  • What to do if you are stranded on the side of the road.

  • Techniques to avoid or escape common street crimes such as mugging or Automatic Teller Machine crimes.

  • Strategies to provide a safe working environment for employees.

  • Methods to stay safe in and around your car and how to prevent or survive carjacking; smash and grab; or bumper crimes.

  • How to keep criminals out of your home; and what to do if they break in when you and your family are there.

  • How to avoid a crime situation and how to survive if you are chosen by the criminal.

DOE Headquarters employees who are interested in attending a personal safety seminar should notify their Administrative Officer. Administrative Officers should provide the names; organization; telephone numbers; and mail codes; along with suggested dates for the seminar to Charles A. Campbell; HR-82; Room 1F-039; Forrestal Building; Washington; DC 20585.

DOE field and contractor staff interested in obtaining information on personal safety seminars available at their location should contact CAC at (703) 827-5000. For additional information; call Charles Campbell at (202) 586-6080; or a member of the Secretary's Diversity Council (Joanna Stancil (202) 586-3019 or Warren Clayman (202) 586-4591).

This Safety & Health Note is one in a series of publications issued by EH to share occupational safety & health information throughout the DOE complex. To be added to the Distribution List or to obtain copies of the publication; call (301) 916-4444. For additional information regarding the publications; call Barbara Bowers; Safety Performance Indicator Division; Office of Environment; Safety and Health; U.S. Department of Energy; Washington; DC 20585; (301)903-3016.

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