The history of industry is also the history of industrial security.
Once manufacturing plants existed, so did the need to protect them. However, as industry has progressed, so have the threats that face those operating within the sector. Today’s threats are more sophisticated and far-reaching than ever. That said, by ensuring good security practice on your site, you can do a lot to secure a warehouse or industrial site.
Recognise and Identify Threats
What is your site’s threat potential? Indeed, how do you calculate such a thing?
In order to properly protect your industrial or manufacturing site, you need to understand the threats you face. Different sites have radically different threat potentials, determined by elements such as location, local crime rates, local emergency response times, the prevalence of historical criminal incidents, whether the site has implemented adequate security measures and whether security best practice is adhered to.
For example, a site which is located in a rural location – in an area with a low crime rate – and which has introduced proper security measures will have a far lower threat potential than a site located in a high crime rate urban area which has failed to introduce proper security measures.
Unfortunately, there is no easy way to calculate your threat potential. But, by carrying out comprehensive research, you will be able to get a good understanding of the threats you face. This is essential for anyone looking to ensure their site is maximally secure – since it allows resources to be targeted on problem areas and reduces the chances of security “blind spots”.
Conduct a Thorough Security Risk Assessment
Once you understand your threat potential, you will be perfectly positioned to assess individual risks. By isolating and assessing particular threats, you will be able to put in place measures to combat them.
The most common security risks for industrial sites are theft, vandalism, trespassing and sabotage. Luckily, the security measures needed to counter such crimes are often very similar; high-quality security signage and CCTV will reduce the chances of theft, vandalism, trespassing and sabotage simultaneously.
However, more specific policies may also be necessary. For example, if you’re particularly worried about warehouse theft or sabotage, you may need to introduce additional measures – such as random bag checks or improved training.
By garnering a detailed understanding of your industrial security risks, you will put yourself in the best position to lower your threat potential. If you’re unsure of how to conduct an accurate risk assessment, you may wish to employ a good security consultancy provider.
Take Advantage of the Latest Physical Security Technologies
The physical security industry is developing at a tremendous speed. This means new, highly effective security solutions are being brought to market every year. Although not all of these innovations will be appropriate for your site, keeping an eye on the physical security market will ensure you’re able to act quickly when a beneficial development does arrive.
The areas most likely to benefit industrial site owners are:
• Access control for entrances and high-risk areas (including biometric access control)
• Intrusion detection systems
• Contact and motion sensors
• Next generation video surveillance
• Environmental monitoring and automated control
• Alarm systems
The particularities of your site will determine which physical security systems will be most beneficial for you. Although change can be painful – especially when it involves installing new systems – failing to keep your physical security measures up to date can mean putting your site at risk.
Re-evaluate Your Security Needs Regularly
Security requirements aren’t fixed. The measures you put in place ten years ago may have been well suited then; however, now, their efficacy may be far lower. In order to ensure the security measures you are deploying remain effective, you need to regularly re-revaluate your security needs. This is especially true if your site has changed in some significant way – such as expanding, introducing new infrastructure and technologies or relocating.
To re-assess your industrial security needs, it’s important that you consider how changes – including internal changes, changes in the local environment and changes to the industry at large – may impact your site’s security. Such a security re-evaluation should be carried out at least once a year, and immediately following the introduction of any substantial changes within your business.
Ensure High-Quality Training
When it comes to protecting your site, your staff can be your greatest asset or your biggest liability. If security protocols are regularly ignored or forgotten, the safety of your site will be jeopardised – no matter how good the security systems you have in place are.
To ensure your staff work to improve site security rather than hinder it, it’s essential that they are properly trained. This includes operational training for all security systems they are likely to encounter – such as alarm systems, CCTV, access control, etc – training in general security good practice and training in how to properly report any suspicious activity or behaviour exhibited by their colleagues. Training may be carried out internally, by external providers or through a mixture of both.
Hire Professional Industrial Security Officers
Properly trained industrial and warehouse security officers will have a thorough understanding of the nature of the threats you face as well as how to minimise them. Industrial security guards are able to carry out static guarding duties, mobile patrols, CCTV monitoring, keyholding, alarm response, access control, gatehouse security and more.
A good industrial security provider will tailor your manned security package to match your specific needs. This means that, instead of simply deploying an off-the-shelf security solution, you’ll benefit from a targeted security approach based on your site’s threat potential and risk assessment. Manned guarding remains the most effective criminal deterrent and the fastest response to criminal activity. No industrial site can be adequately protected without professional security staff on hand.
Secure On Site Security is a leading nationwide security provider. Since 2012, we have supplied industry-leading warehouse security solutions to industrial and manufacturing businesses.
