As a business owner, you are responsible for all your staff. But trained personnel are necessary for keeping the integrity of your company, and you must keep security employees safe.
Provide them with Safety Gear
Security personnel are at risk every second of the day. They must face physical assault, knife crime, and even being shot at. Therefore, whether you have in-store security guards or personal bodyguards, they need adequate protection from some of the worst things that can happen. Luckily, there are specialist stock companies that can provide everything you need. At the least, Tacticon body armor packages offer expert support and defense against all but the most severe trauma. And they come with extra padding for more support and ammunition pouches.
Keep Security Employees Safe with CCTV
CCTV cameras are essential for security. While evidence shows that they don’t help deter violent crime significantly, they’re a great help in identifying criminals later. However, you can use CCTV to great advantage if you have full-time security personnel trained in monitoring an area. However, their effectiveness depends greatly on how much you are willing to invest. Quality CCTV can be initially expensive, and some companies even use fake cameras. But this is not recommended. HD quality CCTV that records or sends images to the cloud is best.
Provide them with Non-Lethal Legal Weapons
Depending on your business location and licensing, you may or may not be able to arm your security employees. As private security for individuals, you can get permission in exceptional circumstances. But it is rare and subject to many regulations. But the law is less stringent when it comes to non-lethal weapons such as batons, rubber bullets, and pepper spray. When you consider that more security officers are killed than police officers, it makes sense to provide a means of defending themselves with all necessary training as a matter of course.
Install Smart Security Systems at Your Premises
There’s no end to the advancing uses of smart systems. You can use smart systems remotely with your smartphone, tablet, laptop, or PC. For security purposes, there are many devices you can supply for the safety of your security employees. These include the following:
- Smart locks that can be controlled remotely and alert you to tampering.
- You can access smart CCTV from anywhere for active monitoring.
- Alexa and other AI hubs that warn of the sound of breaking glass or doors.
Getting smart systems installed is no longer expensive and can be done for a fraction of the cost of when they were new. Still, the initial investment will come out of your budget. But the protection they provide to your business and your security employees are with every penny.
Provide Additional Training
All employees require adequate training to perform well at their job. And security staff are no different. In fact, their effectiveness relies on ongoing training, given their closeness to the public or higher risk factors when working at events or target facilities. In most countries, security personnel must be licensed to work legally, which means passing a training course. But ongoing training is necessary, especially when using guns or other weapons. In addition, it is beneficial to train security staff in crowd dispersal, defusing a situation, and self-defense.
Work with the Police to Keep Security Employees Safe
Security employees don’t hold the same powers as the police and, therefore, are limited in what they can do. However, there is often a high amount of mutual respect between security staff and local police forces. Local police are often all too happy to assist when a situation arises. They will also check in on your security personnel and advise where necessary. In addition, it isn’t uncommon for local police to allow security personnel to use police radio frequencies to request help when something happens. So it’s helpful to consult the police for assistance.
Pay Attention to Security Vehicles
Not all security jobs are on foot. You might have a fleet of vehicles for patrol or client protection. And vehicles are another thing to which you must extend safety protocols. Your employees should always carry out basic FLOWER checks before each use. A basic review ensures that a vehicle is fit for driving and will save lives. Additionally, you should check any extra security features such as ballistic shielding for integrity in case the worst happens. And, of course, it’s helpful to ensure all drivers hold the necessary permits for driving in the country of operation.
Summary
You must keep security employees safe and secure. Providing them with safety gear is the first step. But you can also supply non-lethal weapons and additional training like self-defense.
