Our WWProtection security guard officers are tasked with many grave responsibilities, all relating to the protection of valuable property and the security and safety of people occupying that property temporarily or permanently.
Among these responsibilities is for security team leaders and officers to be aware of and practiced in any Emergency Preparedness Plan that is in place for the venue that is being protected. So, if this is a shopping mall or a hospital or a private jewelry store, then any EPPs that have been established by the management need to be clearly understood, memorized and rehearsed to perfection on the part of the security officer team. When a real emergency strikes (such as an earthquake in California, tornado in Ohio, hurricane in Florida, terrorist attack in Boston), the security detail by default become leaders, comfort-givers and inspirers.
Sometimes our WWProtection management team is invited to participate in the strategizing and creating of an Emergency Preparedness Plan. Our experience in emergencies runs a very wide gamut of small to large scale disasters and how to best respond to them both for the welfare of people exposed but also the property that is impacted.
The basic elements of a EPP that include the duties of the security details are three-fold:
- Assess the risks: any venue from an industrial plant to an entertainment park to a small store needs to have the risks of a variety of disasters seriously looked at, with the priority being on the type of emergencies that are local to the business or estate. Of course, terrorism and fire need to be part of this planning.
- Write the plans, which should include security team responses in detail. These are the instructions and response protocols for whatever catastrophe that is being planned for. Many companies will write separate plans for each major disaster being prepared for.
- Train and drill: the training of the staff (which includes the security details from all shifts) is paramount for the best response to crises, and for the most comforting leading of people who may be customers or guests on your property. The security people are looked at in emergencies as guides, leaders, directors, etc., and they need to be trained for this role. The drills are what make it as real as possible for all the personnel involved, particularly those who are the first line of defense in security and safety.