Being a security officer is no easy feat. You’re responsible for safeguarding the premises and the people around you. But with this role comes potential risks that could put your safety in jeopardy. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of essential tips to help you stay safe while on duty. From identifying potential threats to staying alert and aware of your surroundings, we’ve got you covered. Don’t let your guard down. Protect yourself while protecting others. Read on to learn how to stay safe on the job.
Wearing high visibility jackets and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)/clothing
This is essential for ensuring safety in many situations, especially those involving work in hazardous or potentially dangerous environments. These garments are designed to increase visibility and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries by making the wearer more visible to others, including motorists, co-workers, and passersby.
In addition to protecting workers from potential hazards, high-visibility jackets and PPE/clothing can also act as a deterrent for potential criminals. The bright colours and reflective materials used in high-visibility garments are easily recognised and can help to identify individuals who may be engaging in suspicious or illegal activity.
Maintaining communication
Maintaining communication with the control room and your colleagues is crucial for safety and security, especially when working in a group or team. By keeping them informed of your location, you can ensure that they know where to find you in case of an emergency or if you need assistance.
Staying alert
Staying alert and aware of your surroundings is crucial for your safety and security, especially when working in potentially hazardous or high-risk environments. By being vigilant and observant, you can identify any potential risks or threats and report them to the control room or your colleagues promptly.
Equipment care
Having fully charged security equipment is essential for ensuring that you can communicate and respond to potential security incidents effectively. This includes radios, torches, and other communication devices that are critical for staying in contact with the control room and your colleagues.
Patrol routes
Changing your patrol routes and timings can be an effective way to prevent criminals from observing and exploiting your routine. Criminals may attempt to follow your route and use this information to plan their criminal activities, such as theft or vandalism.
By using random sequences for patrolling, you can cover more ground and make it more challenging for criminals to predict your movements. This can help to reduce the likelihood of criminal activity occurring and make it easier to detect and respond to any potential threats.
Plan & prepare
Plan out your emergency procedure and routes. Get to know your premise, the building as well as the team around you. The more knowledge you have of your surroundings the better and quicker judgement call you can make in case of emergencies”
Make sure you have the contact details of “Point of Contact” (PoC) of the site you are working. In case of emergencies or Intruder and Fire Alarm during silent hours. Always carry out the dynamic risk assessment which means before, during and after any conflict situations and choose the best course of action.
Check calls
As a lone worker, it is important to ensure that you have measures in place to protect your safety and well-being. One such measure is giving check calls at designated intervals, as per the site assignment instructions or orders. Regular check calls can help to ensure that you are safe and that your colleagues are aware of your whereabouts. In the event of an emergency or if you fail to respond to a check call, appropriate action can be taken to ensure your safety.
Know your limits
Knowing your limits is an essential aspect of ensuring your safety and well-being while on duty. It is important to recognise your limitations and to avoid putting yourself in harm’s way or in dangerous situations.
If action is required, it is important to assess the situation and to determine whether it is safe to proceed. This may involve seeking advice or assistance from the control room or your colleagues, particularly in situations where there is a potential risk or threat.
It is also important to follow proper procedures and protocols when responding to potential threats or incidents. This may involve using appropriate communication devices or equipment, following emergency response plans, and seeking assistance from emergency services if necessary.
Understand the importance of soft skills
Some assignments may also be customer-facing roles, where the ability to communicate effectively, empathise with customers’ concerns, and provide satisfactory solutions to problems can have a significant impact on customer satisfaction and retention. It’s important to build on soft skills which include communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, time management, leadership, and emotional intelligence. These skills are essential for building positive relationships with colleagues, clients, and customers, and for creating a positive interaction and minimise conflicts.
All always remember our objectives:
Protect Life, Protect Property, Prevent Crime & Prevent Loss
