Non firearm tools for self preservation on the job

[kannonfyre]

Need some advice fellas...

I just started a job as a building inspector for the urban renewal authority of my country. The most serious job hazard involves doing building inspections of derlict structures so that I can decide whether to have them condemned.

The trouble is that these buildings usually attract homeless people and drug pushers/addicts and I would have to evict them with the assistance of only 1 or 2 of my fellow inspectors. These homeless and druggies are usually aggressive when told to leave and the po-po usually take at least 10 mins to arrive.

Assuming that no guns/projectile weapons are allowed :banghead: (firearms illegal in my country), what would you guys recommend that I clandestinely carry to save my hide when I'm forced to perform another eviction? (The silver lining here is that the homeless and druggies don't have guns either.)

Apart from my work issued hardhat, 1980s issue stab resistant vest and safety boots for protection, I currently rely on an old 18" police issue hickory baton when I have to confront aggressive illegal "tenants" with an eviction order.

Any equipment upgrade suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[TheeBadOne]

2 things I'd recommend.

1) Good O.C. spray

2) Powerful flashlight (like a Sure-fire 6P/Streamlight Scorpion. (can be blinding indoors and used for distraction (OODA Loop).

 

[Edward429451]

I once bashed a dog with a 14" pipewrench. Worked good.

Sounds like some good old fashioned brass knuckles would work fine for what you describe.

 

[Aikibiker]

How about a good clawhammer? Make a point of banging it against suspect walls, doorframes, stairs etc. to check structural integrity. Make it something you use everyday on the job so your coworkers won't think it is out of the ordinary for you to have it in your hand when you go into a building. That way if you have to check the structural integrity of some perp's skull you will just be using whatever is at hand, not a prepared weapon.

http://donrearic.com/main.html This gentleman has some pretty good advice on self defense and improvised weaponry.

 

[Joe Demko]

How about a bit longer stick? Something walking-stick length so you could get a little two-handedaction going. The hammer idea was an excellent one.

 

[Ed Straker]

Sounds like a big ol' MagLite might help, considering your job.

 

[pizzaaguy]

How about a nice crowbar to compliment you hardhat attire!

O.C. spray is always a good thing.

A pair of 12-15 inch lineman's pliers carried in a back pocket
has been known to be a devastating hand-held weapon.

How about a dog?

 

[Penforhire]

Definitely a magnum-sized wrench "for turning gas lines on or off." Then there's the mass-of-keys-on-a-long-chain thing. Don't forget the monster flashlight.

 

[Drjones]

(The silver lining here is that the homeless and druggies don't have guns either.)

I find that incredibly hard to believe.

 

[voilsb]

Whatever happened to getting a good cane and learning to fight with it, as suggested a few months ago? Many of the above suggestions also have merit. Especially Aikibiker's.

Oh, and Drjones, IIRC the police aren't even allowed to have guns in kannonfyre's country, so I'd be confident the homeless and disorganized druggies wouldn't be able to afford black-market guns. Drug gangs, maybe, but I don't think that's the crew kannonfyre is worried about.

 

[Drjones]

Oh, and Drjones, IIRC the police aren't even allowed to have guns in kannonfyre's country, so I'd be confident the homeless and disorganized druggies wouldn't be able to afford black-market guns.

Oh, you mean just like in England?

 

[Drjones]

To get on topic, I'd agree that any tool that is pertinent to your job, be it hammer, large wrench, walking stick, etc. sounds like a great suggestion.

 

[gun-fucious]

what about a big ole dog?

 

[Soap]

Since your hardware is so limited, I would try to spend money and effort to learn how to use the tools that you have at hand. Namely your hands, your baton, and your brain. Sharpen those and you'll feel much more comfortable.

 

[Don Gwinn]

Drjones, England does not have the kind of screwed-and-clamped control on everyday life that Singapore has. Not even close. There are also cultural factors to consider. All in all, I believe Kannonfyre.

There's also the fact that he lives there. How many times have you been to the slums in Singapore again?

 

[JShirley]

Big Maglight.

 

[4v50 Gary]

Concur with metal flashlight. Very innoculous considering your job. Consider OC for creating distance. Once applied, skedaddle. If they pursue, heavy metal rocks.

 

[kannonfyre]

Voilsb:

Fyi the cops in Singapore do have guns, it's just that ordinary folks not employed by govt military or paramilitary organisations do not have ANY firepower. Even crossbows, blow guns, steel sling shots...etc are BANNED.

In any case, for the reference of all THR'ers out there, each local beat cop has the undermentioned:

1 M85 Taurus 5-shot .38 Special revolver with 2.5" barrel
10 158Gr LRN .38 rounds (5 in gun, 5 in belt pouch)
Handcuffs
1 expandable pr-24 style nightstick

It does not take a lot to outgun the average beat patrol.

 

[voilsb]

Voilsb:

Fyi the cops in Singapore do have guns

Ahh, gotcha. I must have missed where you admitted where you were from and I was going off memory from that old thread where everyone was trying to figure out where you were from

Either/or, I remembered that the LEO/Political climate in your country was such where it's not at all unreasonable to expect bad guys to actually lack guns.

Well, thanks for the update, though!

 

[Smoke]

A good folding knife, a mag light, and the training for both.

 

[hso]

As a building inspector, even in Singapore, are you required to evict anyone or is your role to determine if the faciltiy is structurally sound and free of any fire hazards? If eviction isn't your responsibiltiy, I'd advise simply informing anyone you come across that you're performing a safety inspection and that you'll notify them if there are any serious hazards that might endanger them. Slap a condemed notice on the place and let the enforcement folks deal with eviction. If you are required to forcefully evict then you should have uniformed LE support to carry out the eviction at all times.

Consider a light wrecking bar as a tool that can be pressed into service for self defense. Excercise with the thing until it can be swung as easily as a child's toy bat. Good advice on the high intensity flashlight. Good advice on the good knife (which you already have).

 

[kannonfyre]

hso:

My job description requires me to certify and assertain the condition of the building. Also, since it's a tropical locale, I have to note the level of vector/pest infestation and prescribe remedial action. If it's a real S^&%hole and can't be made habitable through renovation or if the building lessee decides that he can't be bothered with structural works then I slap a condemnation and clearance notice on the place.

It is my duty to tell all unauthorised occupants to vacate the building and am backed up by safety and trespassing laws. The crappy part arises when the local squatters react VERY aggressively when told to pack up and leave.

Calling the cops to back us up has crossed my mind but the local police post is pretty understaffed. Hence, we sometimes end up having to fend off perps without po-po assistance.

 

[hso]

KF,

I'm a safety and health professional here in the US and I understand your problem a little. How you deal with people that may not want to hear what your going to tell them is one of the major challenges in any safety field. I've found that if you act like you've been asked to come in to find ways to help folks on a job/site/facilty improve their own safety by getting "management" to fix things you reduce the initial hostility. You may want to take the approach that "Hey guys just performing a safety inspection here. I'll let you know if there's anything you should be concerned about and post it for the owner to see. If you guys have any complaints about the place that you want me to point out let me know so that I can put it in my report." When you finish your walk down is when you need to tell squatters that they need to move on for their own safety. "Thanks for showing me around. I've made notes on the complaints you have about the place and I'll get them in the report. Looks like you were right that the place is unsafe and dangerous to occupy. Looks like you folks will have to find a safer place to use until they decide to fix the problems we found." While I don't understand the cultural elements of society in Singapor some version of deflecting the idea that your a cop there to throw them out may help reduce the threat.

And carry a big stick, crowbar, flashlight, pepper spray, etc. As a government official can you be permitted to carry a more effective self defense tool?

 

[CWL]

Building inspectors, especially structural ones here typically carry a powerful flashlight as part of their tools. You definitely need a large C or D cell to best perform your duties!

Sometimes, they will wear a construction hard hat when working. Don't know if you can or want to wear one (find an old metal one!), but they not only can protect your head, but can be used as a shield, bashing instrument as well as edge-strike capabilities.

Other self-defense tools which you can carry daily but which will not get you in trouble may include: Good steel pens or heavy aluminum pens with pointy tips for punching, pressure points and stabbing -I recommend more than one carried on different parts of your body to be accessible if you are grabbed from behind, knocked to the ground or shoved against a wall (quick steel point into hand's bones, thigh, eye, throat, temple, ear, top of foot, nipple, etc. might buy you time to escape). A fat felt-tip marker may also make it's way into your daily "kit" for punching and hammer-fisting. Another very useful but invisible defensive item is a good-quality clipboard, you can find heavy ones, metal ones and aluminum box types -these can be held forward casually to maintain distance between you and any annoyances, but which can be quickly used to block attacks as well as make forward edge thrusts and corner strikes into face, eyes, nose, gums, throat, as well as against arms and legs/shin scrapes.

Really subtle defensive items for your pockets include a pack of gum (oops sorry, these are illegal in S. ) , roll of hard candy, roll of lip balm, lipstick, plastic lighter, metal lighter, or even a tightly rolled-up bunch of paper (like reciepts) can be held in your hand to support the fist, add weight and make a powerful and unexpected 'force-multiplier' when punching someone. I just worked a heavy bag this weekend using two rolls of paper, they work well enough for emergencies.

The first part of self-defense is situational awareness, but if attacked, defensive tools do not need to be complicated at all to be effective.

 

[kannonfyre]

Thanks for the advice guys!

I have already included a good claw hammer in my toolbelt and bought a pair of impact resistant safety goggles to use at work. Am also considering buying a good set of chemical resistant overalls just in case one of my "evictees" decides to use battery acid as a weapon.

Note: Acid in hollowed-out light bulbs was popular as a thrown weapon during the gang wars of the 60s and early 70s in Singapore.