One of the best ways to protect workplace security is to employ risk management strategies. The individual responsible for safety and health in an organization must be skilled at detecting risks, and finding and implementing ways of lowering or eradicating these risks. Protecting workplace security through risk management includes following a number of clearly defined steps.
A risk manager should be experienced in identifying the hazards and the consequences that could result from these hazards. He or she should determine the likelihood of an event occurring, and if action is necessary to prevent it. This individual may also be responsible for implementing any action that is needed, and figuring out if that action was the appropriate one.
Another useful method of protecting workplace security is preparing for emergencies. Workplace emergencies can include flood, fire, toxic gas exposure or chemical spills, and terrorism. Not many people are able to think rationally during a crisis. Therefore, planning for emergencies can aid employees in locating the appropriate techniques needed to handle their duress. Strategies for emergency planning include imagining and facing worst-case scenarios, applying action that will lower the chance of an emergency happening, and educating employees about the emergency plan.
Facilities such as airports, nuclear plants, tunnels and bridges, schools, financial organizations, and government agencies are probable targets for acts of terrorism. Companies can protect their workplace security by implementing a number of building security methods. These may include prohibiting public entry to mechanical areas or access to the building’s roof; keeping lobbies, mailrooms, and storage areas isolated; and restricting building operations system access given to off-site personnel. An organization that feels itself threatened may choose to install closed circuit cameras and alarm systems, and may hire security guards.
Some companies perform background checks on employees as a way to protect workplace security. They may implement control devices for access to a building, and give shipping and receiving access only to approved clients. Escape avenues may also be planned in case a threat does occur.
If an air contaminant event occurs, the building heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) system controls would need to be reconfigured. To protect workplace security, it is important to double-check the HVAC controls. This process includes finding the local area exhaust, detecting any system failure, and checking for faulty equipment.
To protect workplace security in the United States, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) implemented procedures for workers and the public in case they come in contact with suspicious mail. Protective measures for general mail handling include being on the lookout for and not opening suspicious mail, and opening all mail with a letter opener or other method that reduces skin contact. Mail workers are encouraged to use little movement to open mail, and to refrain from blowing into envelopes or touching their face during the mail opening process. They should also wash their hands after opening mail.