Security for any business is vital, including your workplace security. Affecting more than just your business and physical assets, it also has an impact on your employees and customers. Keep reading to find out how to improve your workplace security and how BusinessWatch can support you.
Workplace security is the level of security a company provides for its employees, equipment, goods, buildings or sites. Having workplace security is the process of ensuring employees are protected from illness or injury and the workplace (offices, factories or warehouses etc.) are secure and protected against break-ins. It is a dual responsibility, covering both physical security (preventing theft and intrusion) and health and safety (preventing accidents and illness).
It’s important to take your workplace security seriously, as not having the right systems in place can have major knock-on effects to the rest of your business. For instance, a loss of stock, equipment and materials from theft can affect your profits, product deliverability and customer satisfaction. In addition, a sequence of injuries to staff could leave employees feeling unsafe, vulnerable and looking for a new job. According to the Office for National Statistics, police-recorded shoplifting offences rose by 30% in the last year, the highest figure since current recording practices began. This surge in commercial crime highlights the increasing vulnerability of businesses and the critical need for robust security measures.
In the last year, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) also reported 40.1 million working days were lost due to work-related illness and workplace injury, with an estimated cost of £22.9 billion due to injuries and ill health from current working conditions. These figures, underscore the significant financial and human impact of inadequate workplace safety.
The convergence of physical security and health & safety is increasingly important. Modern businesses, whether operating a sprawling factory or a complex logistics centre, require systems that work together to protect against all forms of risk. This integrated approach not only enhances protection but also streamlines management, ensuring compliance is easier and responses are faster. For example, linking fire detection with access control can automatically unlock emergency exits in a crisis, a prime example of an effective, integrated safety strategy that saves lives.
A business is responsible for its workplace security and providing its employees with a certain level of safety when they are at work.
There are many ways in which you can improve your business’ workplace security and overall safety. Not only will this increase the safety and security of your workplace, but it will also improve overall business efficiency, employee morale and satisfaction as well as company trust. Read on to discover the key systems you can implement to protect your organisation and improve workplace security.
Installing a CCTV system on business premises has a number of benefits. Not only will it catch any intruders or trespassers on video, but it can also help identify criminals, catch suspicious behaviour and identify weak points in your current security systems.
A CCTV system will also help to deter criminals from breaking into your premises. It acts as a huge deterrent as it increases the likelihood of intruders getting caught and brought to justice. CCTV systems are therefore an easy and effective way to improve your workplace security and make your employees feel safer. To maximise their effectiveness, consider our guide on 10 tips for choosing a CCTV system for your business.
Aside from preventing break-ins, CCTV cameras can also be used to identify risks in current business practises or in employee behaviour, especially if staff are operating machinery or tools. The CCTV footage can be used in evidence if an incident did occur and this will improve the sense of safety within your workforce. Furthermore, modern CCTV is increasingly powered by video analytics software, which uses Artificial Intelligence to identify threats in real-time, such as unattended packages or people entering restricted areas. This is a significant step beyond passive recording, turning your cameras into a proactive security asset that is invaluable in environments like modern office buildings or retail spaces.
Installing a high-quality working intruder alarm system at your business premises is an easy way to improve your current workplace security. Firstly, it will act as a deterrent against break-ins and intruders, therefore decreasing the likelihood of your business becoming a target, which will then improve the overall sense of safety for your employees. Secondly, it will help to stop intruders in their tracks and retreat from the scene. Understanding the different grades, as detailed in our EN50131 guide to alarm grades, is crucial for satisfying insurer requirements and ensuring a police response.
There is also the option to upgrade your alarm system to be monitored. This gives a security provider the responsibility of monitoring your system for triggers via an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC). When one occurs, they will action an immediate response on your behalf. This provides an efficient and effective response time from the emergency services and therefore an increase in your workplace security. We also recommend reading what your employees should know about intruder response procedures to ensure staff know how to act responsibly when an alarm is triggered.
BusinessWatch offers a 5* monitoring package for businesses across all sectors. Get in touch here for a free, no-obligation quotation.
Electronic access control systems are much more sophisticated than simple swipe cards for entry. Control the different levels of personnel access to one or multiple sites, giving you vast control on who can enter the workplace. Advanced systems incorporate biometrics, mobile credentials, and centralised management software, a significant leap from traditional key and lock methods. This technology is vital for protecting sensitive areas, especially in high-risk sectors like utilities.
This is particularly beneficial for areas of high risk to theft. By controlling the number of people who enter, you are also reducing the likelihood of theft and increasing your overall workplace security. Modern access systems can also integrate with fire safety systems to automatically manage roll-call during an evacuation, providing a complete picture of who is safely out of the building. This synergy between systems is crucial for ensuring regulatory compliance and superior life safety.
Adding gates and barriers to your workplace is a great way to instantly improve the overall workplace security. Not only does it add an extra layer of protection from intruders, but it also means you can control who enters the premises and gives you greater control of who is onsite at a given time.
Automated gates and barriers are an even more secure option as they can be automatically locked and opened, therefore giving you peace of mind that all gates and barriers are locked when they are meant to be. These physical deterrents are an essential layer of security, especially for large sites, helping to define the perimeter and support your electronic security systems.
Introducing physical security in the form of security guards to your workplace will not only improve overall security but will also improve the perceived sense of security in the workplace. The integration of manned guarding with electronic surveillance provides a highly effective solution, as security guards can monitor CCTV feeds and respond immediately to verified threats. A report by the Security Industry Authority (SIA) highlights the importance of this human element, noting that guards provide a level of situational assessment that technology alone cannot replicate.
Employees will feel safer and confident that they are protected, as well as the knowledge that if an incident did occur, a security guard could be on hand. They are particularly valuable for businesses in the leisure sector where public interaction and large crowds are common.
Your security guard strategy can be completely bespoke. You could have security guards working in or out of working hours and use them for carrying out vacant property inspections, mobile patrols as well as responding to an alarm response.
In addition to the systems that can improve workplace security, many processes that can improve it too. Improve your security from the top and relay it down to all your employees. Keep reading to discover the best processes to improve your workplace security.
Establishing written employee responsibilities for every employee is a simple way to ensure every individual knows what security measures they are responsible for. This then avoids key actions getting missed or forgotten or shifting the blame and responsibility to someone else. Creating a “security-first culture,” as discussed in our related article How to Build a Security-First Culture in Your Workplace, turns every employee into a conscious part of your defence strategy.
Making sure your employees are up to date on the latest training is incredibly important, in terms of workplace security and employee safety. Training to a high and the latest standards will ensure all employees know how to carry out necessary procedures appropriately, resulting in fewer accidents and incidents. This includes fire safety training, where staff can become “Fire Safety Champions,” a key process for effective workplace risk management, as detailed in our guide Creating Fire Safety Champions.
An important process when improving your workplace security is to develop an emergency plan. An emergency plan is a process of planning and preparing for a disaster. It ensures that the business will survive and recover if an emergency or disaster did occur and therefore when set up improves workplace security longterm. Learn more about how to develop a comprehensive plan with fire and security in mind by reviewing our insights on Business Continuity Planning.
Items included in an emergency plan include: establishing an evacuation plan, keeping a list of emergency contact details, protecting important business records and backing up important data and software. For sectors like education, having robust fire safety training is mandatory and must be regularly practiced.
Establishing strict access control procedures in a vital process in improving workplace security. It is easy for measures to lapse, especially when team members are close and know each other well (e.g., ‘tailgating’).
However, it is important to not let procedures slip and reiterate to your employees the importance of secure access control. For example, if someone does not have a key card, even if they are known well by the business, they should not be allowed to enter the building without senior approval. Consistent application of these rules is the only way to manage risk effectively.
Don’t forget that workplace security expands to health and safety too. Carrying out regular checks and inspections of properties, sites and buildings are important to ensure that the structure and overall workplace is a safe place to be. This includes regular certified fire door inspections, which are crucial for maintaining the passive fire protection of a building. The government’s continued focus on fire safety standards for non-domestic premises means that documented inspections are a legal necessity, not just a recommendation.
Your level of workplace security relies heavily on the workings of your security systems. It is therefore vital that they are in constant working order and receive regular maintenance checks to avoid any system faults, downtime and thus compromised security. This applies equally to your fire alarm systems, where maintenance ensures compliance with BS 5839 and prevents costly false alarms.
BusinessWatch is an NSI Gold approved security provider with over 20 years of experience in the industry. We offer full installation, monitoring and maintenance of multiple security system types and have an in-house design team to create bespoke systems that are tailored to you and your business needs, offering a connected and smart business solution.
Get in touch today and see how we can improve your workplace security. Phone us on 0330 094 7404 for a free, no-obligation quotation.
