7 Physical Security Practices That Every Business Should Implement
Ensuring the physical safety of your employees is a must for any business – there are countless stories about the consequences of incidents of workplace violence, from disgruntled employees or customers to mental instability. The good news is that many instances of workplace violence are preventable – by implementing a few key physical security practices, you can better protect your employees.
- Employee Training & Upper Management Involvement
Put simply, both employees and upper management need to develop a security mindset in order to protect the facility and take ownership of their safety. This starts by offering training and coaching from security professionals. Upper management should lead by example through the implementation of security training and policies.
- Secure Your Building From The Outside In
To protect your employees from the threat of workplace violence, you need to start by securing your facility from the outside in. Security measures you should consider include: exterior fencing, security cameras and roving security guards. Even simple things, like improving outdoor lighting or installing signage, can make a difference.
- Robust Access Control
What procedures do you have in place to prevent unauthorised persons from gaining access to your facility? Proximity cards and optical turnstiles are a great way to achieve this. In addition to these, security cameras and alarm systems are fantastic. These days, it is even possible to restrict access to certain areas within the facility to specific employees.
- Annual Physical Security Assessments
The continually shifting nature of our world means that the security upgrades you make today may not cut it in a few years. To avoid complacency, ensure that you schedule a physical security assessment with a professional. An outside set of eyes can help you to better pinpoint areas where improvement is needed.
- Create An Emergency Plan
It’s never fun, but preparing for the worst is essential should your facility ever face an active threat of some kind. These plans should clearly communicate what steps should be taken during an emergency situation (you may need multiple plans). This will help to ensure that your employees can reach safety, even when their lives are threatened.
- Establishing & Enforcing Strong Policies
Your employee guidelines should include strict policies regarding common issues that contribute to workplace violence. Prohibit the use of drugs or alcohol, ban weapons from the workplace and establish guidelines for harassment and bullying. Remember that a complacent environment can negate the usefulness of such policies.
- Look For Insider Threats
Whilst many businesses are worried about an outsider coming in off the street, keep in mind that employees can also be a source of workplace violence. Employee training and resources should also focus on identifying and reporting potential insider threats. More importantly, management needs to fully investigate any reports.
Protecting the safety of your employees and facility requires continual diligence and a willingness to prepare for the worst. The good news is that the team at Manksa is here to help. We offer a variety of security services that can help to keep your employees safe, from security audits and training to specialised security for a variety of commercial workplaces.
