How secure is your workplace? Do you have a plan and policies to deal with criminal losses, violence, internal theft, litigation, and crisis management? A workplace security plan is designed to protect the organization by reducing its risks. A prepared workplace will devote at least 80 per cent of its security resources to prevention. It is not possible to obtain absolute security, but a thorough vulnerability assessment and risk analysis can help you determine the parameters and design of your security program.

The typical workplace posts signs, installs alarms, some electronics, lights, hardware and may even hire on-site security guards thinking they are protected, but that may not be enough. Do you have security in your parking lots? How many doors can people exit and enter from?

Security Assessment

There are many security measures you may have never thought about. Having good HR-based security policies and good employee training, and a complete security premises assessment are far more critical than locks, cameras, or alarms.

It is in your and your company’s best interest to conduct a complete security assessment. Utilizing outside contractors can provide you with an objective overview of what you have, as well as what you may need. The best ones will not attempt to sell you anything you don’t need. Rather, they will identify your organization’s strengths and weaknesses to specific loss events and determine your vulnerability to loss/injury of life and limb, loss of business documents, protection of all business assets and protection of business continuity. A thorough assessment also takes into account potential violence by or against employees, visitors, vendors, and anyone else who enters your place of business.

Risk Analysis

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Once the vulnerability assessment has been conducted, a risk analysis needs to be performed to determine the risk of the specific loss events which have been identified. The risk is a function of three areas:

1. Threat: How likely is it that this loss event will occur?

2. Vulnerability: How likely is it that this event will be successful against your current security measures?

3. Consequence: What is the negative impact to the organization if this loss event occurs?

Team Approach

Your security program should be a team approach and include representatives from HR, legal, facilities, operations and corporate security. You may also want to include an outside consulting firm and even your insurance carrier. Together they should craft a policy and use manual. Then, make sure management and all employees have a copy and are trained. Review the policies and training once a year.

Investing in the protection of your workplace, your employees, your clients, and your visitors is the most important investment you will ever make.