There are various elements that offer a larger risk than others when considering the security threats at each unique location. From a security sense, the most hazardous time of day is during shift changeover. During this period, security personnel’s focus is generally diverted away from the site and onto administrative activities, increasing the likelihood of on-site incidents. During shift changes, keep the following in mind:
- Take your time – Arrive early for your shift and go through the processes slowly. During this period, some sites have more severe protocols to follow than others, and hurrying will only lead to mistakes.
- Sign or initial everything you read – This is frequently required while evaluating pass-on books or log books that describe site occurrences and incidents. When you sign the paper, you are informing management that you have read and comprehended the message and are ready to apply it in the delivery of services.
- Take inventory – Guards utilize a variety of pricey goods throughout their duties. Radios, batteries, clothes, keys, pass-cards, and other forms of equipment and accessories should be noted into the shift report if they are damaged, lost, or destroyed.
- Test equipment – Testing equipment to verify it works will allow the guard to identify any flaws in the gear they employ and rectify them before an emergency happens. For example, if the flashlight batteries are dead, it is preferable for the guard to notice this prior to a power loss. Radios and other communications equipment, perimeter or access control systems, guard patrol wands or other guard management surveillance and control systems, and other safety equipment are also things to inspect.
- Being your report – Many guards delay their shift reports until the very end of their duty, waiting until the very last second. This causes them to speed through the material, frequently resulting in multiple mistakes. Starting the shift report at the start of the shift and updating it as time allows is an excellent practice to develop. Make a note of the time, date, location, the guard you relieved and their license number, any equipment and keys sent on, and so on.
- Examine your keys- One of the most costly mistakes a guard can make is losing the site keys. These keys frequently provide access to every door on the site, as well as other sites. If the keys were lost, it would be necessary to re-key every lock in the building and manufacture new keys for everyone in order to maintain the site’s security integrity. This is an expensive project that is normally carried on to the security firm who hired the guard in the first place, and then passed on to the individual guard by that firm.
- Never take your eyes away from your duties – There is no reason why the integrity of site security should be jeopardized with two guards at the same station. It can be challenging since guards frequently converse with one another, diverting their focus away from their jobs and obligations. Criminals are aware of this and frequently alter their places at shift changeover, increasing their potential to enter unnoticed. One guard should always be focused on the changeover, while the other guard should be focused on the site. If corroboration is necessary during transferring over, the guards might alternate places to accomplish both responsibilities.When the guard is not at a set station, the shift transfer might take place in the security office. If this is the case, a member of site management should be notified when shift changeover occurs so that they may assist in monitoring the site during this period if necessary.
- Sign in- After you’ve relieved the outgoing guard, you’ll normally need to sign in with the security agency or company. This should only happen once you’ve completed all of the other shift handover criteria.
Crime is defined by the capacity and availability to perform the offence. We can assure that there are no gaps in perimeter security by concentrating our efforts during shift changeover.
