If you think of your business as a safe place, think again. Security experts recommend taking these precautions:
- Parking Lot Security/Lighting. Because crime flourishes in the dark, implement a "buddy system" to ferry workers to and from cars. Limit parking lot access and keep the lots - and your entire facility, inside and out - well lit during non-business hours. Entrance Area Safety. Keep a receptionist on duty at all times. Provide a registration system for visitors (even if they're dressed as service personnel). Have locks on doors and windows. Use badge or other photo ID systems, with frequent checks of entry codes. Never let employees prop open an outside door with a chair so it doesn't lock behind them during a break.
- Suspicious Activity. Urge employees to report anything suspicious around the building. Instead of allowing employees to open suspicious packages, give them to the authorities for search and disposal.
- Information Safety. Because it's increasingly easy for hackers or disgruntled employees to steal your organization's vital data, use updated security software with regular backups. Shred paper documents containing critical information when they're no longer needed.
- Equipment Security. Inventory critical equipment, hardware, and software. This is especially important as electronic devices keep shrinking in size. An inventory will also make it easier for your insurance company to process any claims if anything "goes missing."
- Employee Valuables. Provide secure places, such as lockable drawers and closets, for employee property. Valuables, especially those that reveal personal information, should be locked away during meetings or breaks.
- Safety Team. Have a group of managers and employees meet regularly with a set agenda.
To learn more, feel free to get in touch with our Risk Management specialists at any time.