Security Is Best With Enforcement

By Rick McCauley



The attributes of a good job include reasonable pay and benefits, decent hours, fair employer, chance for advancement, proper equipment and a clean safe workplace. Who could ask for more?

The pay scale and benefits are known at the time of hiring, as are the hours and chance for advancement. Whether the employer is fair and the equipment proper can be discovered in a relatively short timeframe. A clean, safe workplace - let's take a closer look.

One of the necessities of a safe workplace is in having a secure site, and we are all aware that security has its price. Some of the modern day components of a safe area are cameras, entry systems, motion and entry detectors, alarm systems and guard services. All carry a significant price, but what price does one put on safety? Millions of dollars are spent toward this goal, but much too often all that is achieved is a false sense of security.

The basic necessities of security - be it of a family, a workplace or even a nation -are rules and enforcement. Many companies don't take the time, or make the effort, to put these two functions in place prior to spending millions on all the other security components. Cameras are only effective if tapes are reviewed and something is done about the negative things caught by them. Entry systems are only effective if employees are made to wear the correct entry apparatus. Simple put, if nothing is done when any of the systems determine an unsafe, not secure behavior, then the money spent in providing the systems has been wasted.

The common day fear of lawsuits has the business world sitting on its hands, afraid to take any action against employees. At the same time, that fear is also opening the doors for more successful lawsuits, created by the inaction. The placement of cameras to see improper action, without the ability to take necessary corrective steps once those actions are detected, does nothing. An entry system where people are allowed to enter without the proper entry apparatus prevents nothing. Guards who have no action or recourse once they determine policies are violated have no effect. When an employee is injured, and any of these systems are in place to prevent such injuries, attorneys see the door of opportunity opening.

Parents who dare to explain expectations to their children and discipline when those expectations aren't met, are more respected and effective than those who don't. Jurisdictions where laws are more stringently enforced, generally have fewer problems than those where enforcement is more relaxed. Companies where rules are enforced have a greater tendency to be safe and secure.

By communicating expectations to employees - by employee handbooks, contracts, newsletters or other general means - the employer has met only part of his responsibility. By having legal representation and insurance to protect from losses, only part of the problem is addressed. Only by following through with a form of enforcement will the process be complete and the workplace secure.

There is no perfect system. There will be problems that the best equipment won't prevent, but these can be held to a minimum by effectively using what's available, no matter the size of the company.

The price of enforcement can be much less expensive than the price of creating an apparently safe atmosphere without enforcement.



Rick McCauley is a licensed Private Investigator working with All County Security and is now working in the Security Department at Ascend One in Columbia. He can be reached at 410-910-2020.