How do you effectively keep your employees safe? With today’s workplace standards, safety is becoming more than just a set of rules and guidelines to follow. In addition to complying with regulations, safety is about creating an environment where employees feel secure, supported, and able to work to the best of their abilities.
Regardless of the type of office space you might run or oversee, physical security remains a key factor when it comes to employee wellbeing. And office security guards play one of the biggest roles when it comes to this, acting as both a visual deterrent and an active protector in the event of an incident. In this article, we’ll be covering some of the ways in which they help contribute to the safety of your workforce.
Table of Contents
1. Visible Deterrent to Potential Threats
Potentially one of the most outright noticeable benefits of office security guards is their on-site presence. Uniformed guards that can frequently be seen either patrolling or guarding points on site work as a fantastic deterrent to potential criminals. Their presence alone contributes to the prevention of common workplace crimes like theft, vandalism, and even unauthorised entry.
For businesses that are located in much busier areas with higher traffic, or large commercial buildings, having a trained security guard can help contribute to making a significant reduction in crimes. As an added benefit, if they’re stationed somewhere like the reception, or frequently patrol other areas of the building, they can help to boost the sense of security for staff, making them feel much more comfortable as they work.
2. Access Control and Monitoring
In addition to other duties they might perform, security officers play a crucial role in securing any potential entrances to buildings. Whilst stationed at entry points, they can strictly control who enters and exits the premises, keeping track of all visitors in a written log. Alternatively, they may just assist with any existing automated systems in place, or verify visitor IDs where they need to. This helps to ensure that only authorised personnel are gaining access to the site.
Entrances and exits aren’t the only areas that office security guards are important for, however. Areas that contain sensitive information or expensive equipment are also incredibly important to secure. This includes areas like data centres, HR offices, or even executive suites. Stationing personnel at these points can help prevent data leaks or equipment theft in instances where a criminal may somehow be able to gain access to the building.
Enforcing proper entry protocols and carefully monitoring visitor activity helps to prevent any security breaches and ensure a safe, organised flow of foot traffic on-site.
3. Emergency Response and Incident Management
Trained to respond to a wide range of emergencies, office security guards are most likely to be the first to act in problematic situations. When responding to incidents, security personnel may be expected to assist with providing emergency first aid, helping with the evacuation of staff and visitors during a fire or similar emergency, and investigating suspicious behaviour. All of these activities, combined with their critical thinking skills, help them to make a difference and keep tense or stressful situations under better control.
Because of these skills, frontline security guards are, in most cases, expected to have a valid first aid qualification when applying for a licence. They may also hold additional qualifications, like emergency communication, which helps them to coordinate with the appropriate emergency services when they arrive.
4. Patrols and Routine Security Checks
Naturally, many security guards don’t just guard one specific point all day, and are often tasked with actively patrolling areas of the building or premises to identify and take care of any potential issues before they have the chance to escalate. On their patrols, security guards may check fire or other emergency exits, take note of any poorly secured areas, and even spot potential hazards like water leaks or broken locks.
These routine checks are what help to provide a layer of proactive security that helps to complement and aid any electronic security systems in place, like surveillance. This is what helps to ensure your workspace is kept safe at all times.
5. Supporting a Safe Workplace Culture
Beyond enforcing security protocols and safety measures, security personnel also contribute to a positive and secure workplace atmosphere. Their presence alone can provide employees and visitors with peace of mind, especially during opening, closing, and graveyard shifts, where there’s a lot less people around and it’s more likely to be dark.
Because of this, guards often become trusted and approachable figures that employees and visitors can turn to with any concerns they might have seen relating safety or suspicious activity.
6. Conflict Prevention and De-escalation
Disagreements in the workplace, whether between staff or visitors, can very quickly escalate if not handled properly. For this reason, guards are commonly trained on de-escalation techniques and other forms of conflict management, which allows them to safely, calmly, and professionally intervene in heated situations.
Both their presence and intervention help to discourage any confrontational behaviour, whilst also providing assurance that any incidents will be managed appropriately, and as quickly as they had the chance to start.
7. Improving Safety with Collaboration
Security guards don’t always have to work solo, and in most cases, they don’t. In corporate settings, they’re often working hand-in-hand with other departments, like HR, IT, and facilities management, to help ensure the proper policies are being upheld. This usually includes any health and safety protocols, making sure that only authorised contractors can enter the building, or providing support for any fire drills and workplace audits.
By allowing your security personnel to integrate themselves with wider safety efforts, they can become a crucial part in your company’s overall security strategy.
8. Office Security Guards Can Tailor to Your Needs
Not every office will need the same level of security. Security personnel are extremely flexible, and are capable of adapting their duties based on the size and layout of your business. Additional factors may sometimes be taken into consideration as well, like how at risk your business is, as well as your operational hours. Whether it’s daytime coverage, overnight patrols, or temporary support during an office move or event, their flexibility guarantees that you’re always protected.
As an added benefit, tailored guarding solutions help you to balance budget-friendly services with effective security, providing you with peace of mind about both cost and service quality.
Conclusion
Ultimately, office security guards are far more than just a stationary presence at the door of your building, but trained professionals who actively protect your employees, property, and your business’s reputation. From incident prevention to managing emergencies, they act a backbone to the security strategy of your workplace.
For business owners, investing in trained security personnel is a strategic move that encourages confidence and motivation in employees, protects any physical assets, and supports the growth of your business. If you haven’t already, consider reviewing any existing security measures you have in place, and consider how they could be improved or supported with a dedicated security presence.
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