With many still working from home in 2021, one of the most important concerns for facilities managers is maintaining site safety for near-vacant premises.
While we’re all looking forward to the proposed lift to lockdown measures in the UK towards the middle of the year, it is important that we take extra precautions to ensure that business can resume as usual once sites can reopen.
Security experts have warned that unoccupied buildings are at risk, and that opportunists have taken advantage of the global pandemic to target locked-up properties or those with lower than usual occupancy, breaking in and stealing business-critical infrastructure.
Identify Risks
Regular review processes should help identify security threats. It is important that you conduct regular risk assessments to ensure that you can react should a crime occur. Update your operating procedures and action plans appropriately.
Update Incident Response Procedures
Take into account the changing working landscape and remote working when you prepare updated incident response procedures. Test command, control and communication capabilities, and ensure that your response plan is fit for purpose.
Review Your Security Provisions
Make sure that your security team is well-equipped, and that technology is up-to-date against current threats. Regular auditing will help ensure that you aren’t caught unawares in the event of an incident.
Consider Phasing the Return To Work Procedures
As lockdown restrictions ease, consider your approach to return-to-work protocols. Bring staff back gradually, and consider retraining them in terms of security protocols.
Train Security Staff for Evolving Threats
As threats evolve, so should your means of negotiating them. Ensure that your staff have completed Protect Duty and Action Counters Terrorism (ACT) Awareness training and that their approach to security is up-to-date.
Audit and Review Access Control Systems
Ensure that your access control systems, both physical and electronic, are up-to-date and conform to current legislation. Consider penetration testing and table-top security exercises as part of site training program, given the long absences of staff from the workplace.
Secure Your Perimeters
Securing your building perimeters is critical to limiting access points where criminals could enter the premises. Lighting and CCTV are better utilised when the perimeters are properly secured.
Re-Asses Your Approach To CCTV
Technological advancements have meant that CCTV can be used for so much more than evidence gathering. CCTV can help monitor capacity, and allow operators to ensure that COVID-19 safety measures are adhered to, control access into buildings, and check building temperatures (alerting fire systems if there are dangerous fluctuations).
Staff Appropriately
Employing the correct number of security officers is a vital tool in deterring people from entering your premises unannounced. Ensure that your security officers patrol buildings regularly, educate employees on safety measures, conduct temperature checks to reduce risks of COVID-19 transmission and manage occupancy levels.
Be Visible
Ensure that your security measures are highly visible. Vocal security teams, cameras and signage all add up as factors to deter criminals from entering your premises and will reassure employees that their safety is a priority.
Find A Trusted Partner
At Voltix Services, our fire protection and security services help keep essential systems safe, operational and fit for your premises.
We can provide you with expert advice, and help audit your current security measures – so that you know your security risks and can plan accordingly.
As the country gears up for a busy return-to-work, our bespoke service will help analyse risks, reduce your costs and increase performance.