As the holiday season approaches, many organizations are preparing for increased activity, which can inevitably lead to greater security risks. It is essential for organizations to closely examine how to protect their people and buildings to keep everyone as safe as possible. The hustle and bustle leading up to the holidays can take the focus away from security and emergency response plans. Organizations that take proper precautions and remain vigilant will be better positioned to avoid serious incidents and respond effectively to those that do arise. The following tips can help organizations prepare for some of the emergencies that may arise:
1. Create an Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan
Protecting people and property during an emergency is crucial for any organization. To effectively manage emergencies, organizations must have a plan in place to guide their response. The plan should cover areas such as access control, surveillance and communications protocols. It is also a good idea to share facility maps, contact information and copies of the plan with local response agencies so they can provide effective support when needed.
Organizations should train staff on their roles in executing the plan and conduct drills to evaluate the organization’s emergency readiness. A tabletop exercise is a worthy substitute if a full-scale drill is not feasible. To execute a tabletop, decide on an emergency scenario and gather a team of around 15 people to participate in the exercise. Afterward, evaluate what went well and identify areas for improvement.
2. Determine Security Approach
Despite their best efforts, organizations are not immune to the risk of violence, and establishing a security team can go a long way toward protecting the safety of staff and visitors. When considering options for security, organizing an unarmed volunteer security team can create the least amount of additional risk exposure. Ask the team to watch for suspicious behavior, de-escalate nonviolent incidents and alert people in their facilities to danger.
Another option is armed security, which could involve hiring local law enforcement or a private contractor or establishing a team of employees and volunteers. Law enforcement officers and security contractors should assume liability for their actions, while the organization will have the greatest risk exposure with an in-house team. Whether the organization chooses to hire a contractor or establish an in-house security option, they must contact their insurer to discuss plans and ensure the appropriate insurance coverages are in place.
3. Properly Maintain Outdoor Areas
Proper lighting is a simple and effective tool to deter crime. Darkness makes some crimes easier to commit, so even a burned-out lightbulb can create an opportunity. Organizations should also trim vegetation from windows and entrances to limit hiding places for those with criminal intent.
It is also important to think like an intruder. Organizations should assign someone to walk around the perimeter of the building and identify places an intruder could hide if they were planning to gain access to the facility. They should consider where the easiest place to break in would be, such as an easily accessible window. Then, they can use these observations to assemble a list of easy changes to deter intruders and thieves.
4. Be Aware of Potential Threats
It is impossible to predict violent behavior, and there is no way to reliably identify a person who is planning to commit violence. Organizations should take all potential threats seriously, including vandalism and loitering that may indicate the presence of a greater threat.
Potential threats can come in various forms. Organizations should regularly review social media and be aware of any issues, whether from inside or outside of the organization, that may lead to threats. Threats can include domestic issues with organization members or employees, disgruntled employees or community unrest.
5. Thoroughly Vet Security Personnel
Conducting proper background screenings helps an organization select trustworthy staff and volunteers. It also helps avoid costs an organization might incur from criminal activity and protects the organization’s reputation. Organizations should conduct background checks on anyone who handles security, such as a gatekeeper at the front door or those with confidential information regarding the organization or the whereabouts of safes and certain documents.