The pandemic rages on, and with it the need for those who work in close contact with the public to adapt their behaviour to protect themselves and others.
A security professional protects the public daily and responds to the challenges this presents. As a security operative, your current challenge is that not only are you expected to continue your service of safeguarding people and businesses but you must also support the government in helping to combat the pandemic, and protect people from any actual and perceived threats, even though you are putting yourself in the firing line in doing so.
This is why it is important that you are fully aware of the requirements for keeping both yourself and the public safe. You must take the necessary actions to protect yourself and those around you from the current pandemic by adhering to guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), law enforcement and security protocols.
Recognise the signs
It is important to be vigilant and recognise the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Anyone displaying symptoms that include fever, cough, and shortness of breath should be identified to the appropriate healthcare professionals to ensure they get the proper care and that others around them are protected.
The new normal is social distancing – we have all become used to practising this every time we leave our homes or when we are in the company of others. But the media is awash with instances of individuals who contravene these rules. Social distancing can work in your favour in identifying these individuals. The very conscious distancing by most people can help us to more easily identify those who flout the rules as being either deliberately malicious, or foolish – they cannot easily hide.
Protect yourself
As a security operative, you are expected to protect the public, but it is equally important to shield yourself from exposure. At the time of writing 45,000 deaths have occurred in the UK as a result of the virus. And there is still more every day. According to the Office for National Statistics, male security guards are among those most at risk. This acts as a reminder to those of us who employ security operatives of how important it is to meet our legal obligations to ensure the safety of our staff and the people they protect. And for individual security personnel, we must ensure we are equally responsible for our own safety and that of those we come into contact with.
Your employer has a responsibility to provide you with the relevant Personal Protection Equipment. The Centers for Disease Prevention and control suggest that law enforcement and public services personnel should, at a minimum, have disposable latex gloves, respirator and protective eyewear. However, they don’t protect you unless you actually use them.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published guidance on what security personnel should do if you come into close contact with someone displaying symptoms, during apprehension. However, your organisation should have a plan for exposure control so that you know who to contact should you suspect someone of having COVID-19 and have them seek medical help.
Protect your team
The Security Industry Authority (SIA), the organisation responsible for regulating the private security industry, maintains that it is the responsibility of the employer to meet the correct legal obligations to ensure staff safety. Here are some of the steps you can take to protect your team.
- Furlough any security personnel who are classified as extremely vulnerable
- Rearrange shift patterns and working arrangements to ensure precautions are taken
- Ensure people self-isolate if they or their families develop symptoms
- Supply PPE including masks, gloves, goggles, anti-bac gel and anti-bac wipes for equipment use
- Update staff on the latest guidance about wearing masks and other safety requirements
- Carry out COVID-19 site audits and supporting risk assessments
- Carry out COVID-19 online training modules to enable managers to monitor the health, safety and welfare of their colleagues as well as in promoting safe systems
- Hold regular health check-ins between line managers and security officers to understand any potential health concerns or vulnerabilities.
- Take advantage of Government testing so that officers and staff with symptoms (or symptomatic members of their household) have access to the tests being offered.
- On client run sites, brief security personnel on changes to procedures, workstations, processes and protective equipment or clothing.
The role of the security operative is to provide security and safety; to provide vigilance and deterrence to public threats. They must now also respond to the changing situation by adhering to additional safety requirements.
Maintaining high levels of vigilance is essential for the containment of the virus. Being familiar with the dangers that can threaten us all and knowing the signs and how to deal with them is key in making sure we keep the public safe and that we don’t fall victims ourselves.