Winter is tough for security officers
The onset of winter brings with it a host of challenges for most us, especially if our line of work requires being outdoors for extended periods of time. A local private security company has urged residents to spare a thought for security officers who patrol their properties in the cold and the rain. By asking the right questions, they can make a difference to the lives of these security officers.
“The job of security guards becomes extra tough in winter,” says Verena Hulme, ADT Security’s District Manager (Cape Town North). She believes there are steps residents of gated communities, like estates and complexes, can take to help improve the services of their security personnel in the colder months.
“Of course their employers, the security companies, have a responsibility to properly equip the security guards against the cold to ensure that their services are in no way compromised. However, managing agents and residents must also be involved in ensuring the guarding system and other security protocols are running smoothly in winter.”
According to Hulme, these elements form the basis of a solid guarding solution at estates and complexes in winter. She recommends that residents pay attention to the following:
• The security guards must be provided with the necessary protective clothing. Failure to do so should be reported to their employer by the managing agents.
• The guard hut or station should be suitably ventilated and warm without going to the extremes that will cause discomfort or drowsiness.
• Security guards should be advised to have a flu vaccination.
• Estates should use electronic support measures, such as CCTV, to assist security guards and minimize the need for being outside, especially in case of extreme conditions.
• The guard hut or station must have windows that will provide the necessary observation on the approach to the hut, even if the doors are closed.
• The security guards must have the necessary equipment to compensate for the early onset of darkness, such as a torch and batteries.
• A health and safety assessment of the guarding environment should be carried out by the security company and managing agents, regularly.
“Guarding is a challenging job. We place a lot of trust in security guards to keep us safe from criminals all year round. But winter brings additional challenges for security personnel and without the necessary support from their employers and residents, their duties can be difficult to carry out,” says Hulme.