7 Ways to Improve Physical Workplace Security
by Abdul Aziz Mondal Management Published on: 01 June 2018 Last Updated on: 18 October 2024
When people talk about security in the workplace, the conversation most often revolves around cybersecurity, which makes sense.
Every 39 seconds, a hacking attack occurs, affecting 1 in 3 Americans each year. So of course, cybersecurity deserves its due diligence.
However, cybersecurity shouldn’t be the only security we are concerned with when it comes to workplace safety. It’s also very important to focus on ways to improve physical workplace security as well.
Burglars, violent attackers, and natural disasters are all things that can pose a threat to the safety of your business and the safety of your employees.
So what can you do to make sure your physical workplace security is up to par? Keep reading to learn 7 ways to improve security.
1. Keep Everything Locked, Labeled, and Organized :
Knowing that everything is in its rightful place and accounted for can be a bit difficult if you don’t know about everything you have to begin with!
With all the movement that happens in an office every day, it’s important to stay on top of where everything is.
One way to stay organized is to label everything with an inventory number or logo, and then keep a list of it all. This will make it easy for you and your employees to track if anything goes missing.
Also, before leaving at the end of the day, make sure everything is organized, so you can easily spot anything haywire the following day. Important documents, expensive electronics, and anything else of significant value should also be locked away at the end of each day.
2. Install Cameras :
Installing security cameras is probably one of the easiest, most effective ways to ensure physical workplace security.
Cameras are great because not only can they help you catch a criminal in the act, sometimes even the mere presence of them is enough to deter a criminal from acting. In fact, formal burglars state that dogs barking and cameras are the two biggest deterrents.
You should install cameras in the garage, entrance, hallways, and pretty much every communal space beside the bathrooms! You can check out this website for more information about the different types of cameras you can install.
3. Install Alarm Systems :
Like cameras, alarm systems can be an excellent deterrent to criminals
When people notice that an office is equipped with alarms, they tend to be much more careful about how they exit and enter a building. Plus best of all, alarms work to protect your office even when no one is there.
When an alarm goes off, authorities are immediately alerted to the situation.
4. Wear Identity Badges :
If you have a big office, it can be difficult to keep track of who is coming and going, and it can be difficult for all of your employees to recognize each other even.
Identity badges, with photos and clearly written names, can help identify who is coming and going throughout the day as well as identify anyone who shouldn’t be there.
Requiring guests to wear safety badges is also an appropriate workplace security measure that should be taken. These guests should also be required to check-in somewhere when they enter the building. This way, if anything happens, you will have a log of everyone who was in the building and at what time.
You can also take the identity badges one step further by having a control access system. A control access system requires a badge swipe or key code to enter a building, therefore only allowing those with this information to enter.
5. Keep Employees in the Loop :
Workplace security isn’t just about you keeping an eye on your employees, it’s also about making sure everyone feels safe!
Make sure you keep your employees in the loop about workplace security measures, and that you also ask for their suggestions or concerns. You may find that an employee has noticed someone suspiciously lurking in the parking lot during their lunch break, or some other piece of important information.
If employees work late, make sure there is some sort of buddy system implemented. After dark, employees should always use the buddy system when walking to their cars: two people walk to one person’s car and then drive to the other employee’s. It may sound ridiculous to drive someone such a short distance, but there is always strength in numbers!
Also, make sure an employee is never in the building completely alone. With few exceptions, no one should ever be left alone in an office building.
6. Make Entrances Visible :
Entrances should not be in some random wing of the building where no one can see them.
Instead, workplace entrances should be easily visible. This way, workers and security personnel can easily identify when someone who doesn’t belong enters the building. Plus, having nearby entrances is also important should there be a situation in which everyone needs to leave the building quickly.
7. Have Emergency Plans Set in Place :
Whether it’s a burglar, a fire, or another type of threat, you should have emergency plans set in place in case workplace security measures fail.
And most importantly, employees should be made aware of what to do in each type of emergency situation. If an employee notices something missing, they should know who to call, if an attacker enters the building, they should know where to go to seek cover, etc.
Having emergency plans set in place helps lessen the damage of a disastrous situation and gives everyone some peace of mind.
Workplace Security Wrap Up :
By implementing these workplace security tips, you will make your office a safer place for you, your employees, and your business.
If you’re looking for more ways to improve your office, and your business as a whole, be sure to check out our blog. From office productivity tips to promotional ideas, we’ve got you covered!
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