Working in an office or other workplace facility, you have a lot of things to keep in mind in addition to your daily duties. You have to maintain communication with team members, keep track of time, and stay up-to-date with the latest goings-on in the company. In all this commotion, some specialists forget a key aspect of the job – workplace security. Workplace security encompasses a wide range of practices, mostly aimed at keeping your company’s image, property, and workers’ safety protected at all costs.
Access
Establishing strict access rules and protocols is essential to maintaining the security of the company and its employees. In regards to who is allowed to go where, you can implement key cards and metal keys for separate rooms and areas. Naturally, you will also want at least one security guard that will watch over the premises and any visitors. For companies with computer systems, it is crucial that a system administrator delegate accesses to various files, folders, and systems.
Personal accountability
Implementing security protocols and mechanism goes a long way towards ensuring safety, but you can also gain much by instructing employees about the process of handling uncertain situations and security threats. For example, anyone working at the office should make sure that no unauthorized persons follow them into restricted rooms and areas. It is also crucial for everyone to feel comfortable enough to let the administration know if there has been a security breach or something else is wrong.
Exterior threats
Even with the finest security systems in place, there are many random security factors that may not be considered. For example, open windows let anyone at the right height and vantage point see what is going on in office rooms and potentially glean valuable information. The same principle applies to sound. If you make your speech/presentation too loud, it may be perfectly audible to other people/companies around you, and sensitive data can even be collected through innocent social media posts.
Physical safety
Protecting your workers’ physical safety and health is of paramount importance. In fact, it is a legal obligation in most companies. Thus, you should have all precautions and tools in place to respond to urgent security issues like fires, health emergencies, and evacuations. As long as your company and its workers are aware of the procedures for such dangerous situations, they should have access to everything they need to minimize risk and potentially prevent bodily harm.
As you can see, there is more than one way in which to approach workplace security. On one hand, you need to have capable staff members making sure that the people going in and out of your building are the right ones, and keep basic tools around in case of any hazards or medical emergencies. Apart from predictable threats, companies would do well to eliminate subtle and unnoticeable dangers that could expose their secrets to the outside world and competitors. Finally, putting the onus of security onto employees will only make your business stronger and keep everyone invested in the process.
