Nearly five years after the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech in April 2007, colleges and universities across the nation face the continued challenge of assessing and mitigating threats posed by unexpected emergencies and natural disasters. In response to this ongoing need, the U.S. standardization community has stepped forward to help institutions of higher learning and other organizations make important strides in securing campus safety.
Approved as an American National Standard (ANS), ASME-ITI Risk Analysis 2010, A Risk Analysis Standard for Natural and Man-Made Hazards to Higher Education Institutions, lays out a risk management process to identify, analyze, and communicate risks on college and university campuses. The standard addresses threats to human life and well-being, as well as risks to facilities and infrastructure, and also encompasses potential operational hazards.