By Luca Müller

The Covid19 pandemic has produced an increase in the way security guard services operate with global inquiries rising rapidly as sites go into states of lockdown. Commercial IP and vital global infrastructures have seen a spike in use for competent professional security guarding hire that is able to minimize incursions onto sites while minimizing criminal activity. This drive is seen as good for business but has created a sub-set of problems, Mainly how we keep our manned guarding teams safe in such times of a pandemic. Looking through this article we share the steps we at Titan Security Europe have been taking to ensure our security personnel’s safety as we continue to operate across wider part of Europe. 

PPE

For individuals and lone offices the need for PPE is minimal. However, for larger wide public facing security guards and large security guard teams PPE has become an essential part of kit. Masks should now be issued to all security guards if you can source them! Where our guards are in higher risk locations, with public access we have also been issuing latex gloves to minimise the spread of germs across contaminable surfaces.

For example, where security patrol routes through public buildings exist, we are providing disposable gloves were ever possible, with clear instructions to change gloves on an hourly basis or whenever a route is completed. This should help prevent the spread of this virus in all public facing situations. Finally, all our static and mobile patrol security teams have been issued with hand sanitiser to further more compliment action to prevent spread. 

Guarding Work protocols.

Adjusting site plans and layouts of patrol routes and how we now conduct handovers is essential with proactive steps in conference calling and video skyping when supervisor liaise with security officers. These changes play a huge part in the reduction to risks of multiple security team members contracting the virus, which is likely to create potential logistical problems for security coverage and primarily health of that officer.

We have changed working patterns to minimise all contact between individual security members and wider teams on site. One guard at a time can patrol, one watches CCTV, one provides access control all while maintaining social distancing rules. Changeovers happen at a safe distance with guards acknowledging their arrival on site via text or our control room managed 24 hours a day. Access control procedures now with the use social distancing to check ID’s and deliveries are left in secure locations before being collected.

This practise is already now seen in other sectors these measures were taken early due to our supplier of officers in areas that have seen up surge in cases. All of these measures are designed to reduce and minimise the risk to security personnel and officers, but also minimise the risk to our business and that of yours. 

Training

Without training our staff the issuing of PPE and changing working patterns would be pointless. We have been delivering training through out with  online video conferencing programs (Zoom, Skype etc.) to our European teams. This allows us to ensure that our teams are fully up to date with latest local government quarantine and lockdown measures and trained in the use of PPE and our new work patterns. While also adhering to set out procedures for our clients to meet there expectations.

Pre Planning

We are now seeing many countries previously now taking steps to further go into a state of lockdown, These quarantine measures will increase and that members of our teams are going to need to take further self-isolating measures. Contingency planning and organisational forward thinking ensures that we have additional staff on hand to cover key elements of sites and take on more sites as security demands increase. We also have been working in developing country by country organisational planning to make sure that officers can still operate in areas with strict quarantine and lockdown procedures in line with European key worker rules. This contingency planning allows us to further more minimise the risks of any operation disruption. 

As the situation continues to evolve we are ensuring our guards remain as safe as possible, whilst also doing everything we can to ensure our customers increased security needs are met effectively. 

Luca Müller is Sales manager for Western Europe for Titan Security Europe.

Source: titansecurityeurope.com