In an ever-evolving world, security has become paramount, and selecting the right security company can make all the difference in safeguarding your assets, property, and peace of mind. If you’re seeking top-notch security services in the Greater Toronto Area, look no further than Wincon Security. With a commitment to excellence and a proven track record, Wincon Security stands out as a top-tier security company. In this blog post, we’ll explore the reasons why Wincon Security is your ideal choice for comprehensive security solutions.
Unmatched Expertise
When it comes to security, experience and expertise are non-negotiable. Wincon Security boasts a team of seasoned professionals with decades of combined experience in the field. Their knowledge spans a wide range of security disciplines, from access control and surveillance systems to on-site security personnel management. This depth of expertise allows Wincon Security to tailor security solutions to the unique needs of each client, ensuring maximum protection.
The company’s commitment to ongoing training and development ensures that its staff stays up-to-date with the latest advancements in security technology and best practices. This dedication to continuous improvement is a testament to Wincon Security’s unwavering commitment to providing the highest level of service to its clients.
Comprehensive Security Solutions
Wincon Security understands that one size does not fit all when it comes to security. That’s why they offer a wide array of comprehensive security solutions tailored to meet the unique requirements of each client. Whether you need on-site security guards, access control systems, video surveillance, or a combination of services, Wincon Security has you covered.
Their integrated approach to security allows clients to have a single point of contact for all their security needs. This streamlines the process and ensures seamless coordination among different security measures, resulting in enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
Cutting-Edge Technology
In today’s digital age, security is as much about technology as it is about manpower. Wincon Security understands this and invests heavily in cutting-edge security technology to stay ahead of potential threats. Their state-of-the-art security systems, including advanced access control, video surveillance, and intrusion detection systems, are designed to provide real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities.
What sets Wincon Security apart is their ability to seamlessly integrate these technologies into a cohesive security strategy. This ensures that clients have access to the latest tools and resources to protect their assets and mitigate risks effectively.
Exceptional Client-Centric Approach
Wincon Security’s success is rooted in its unwavering commitment to its clients. From the initial consultation to the ongoing management of security services, the company places a strong emphasis on building lasting relationships. Their client-centric approach involves active communication, regular assessments, and a willingness to adapt to changing needs.
The client testimonials on the Wincon Security website speak volumes about their dedication to customer satisfaction. Clients consistently praise the company for its responsiveness, professionalism, and ability to deliver on promises. This level of trust and satisfaction is a testament to Wincon Security’s commitment to putting clients first.
Proven Track Record
A company’s track record is often the best indicator of its reliability and competence. Wincon Security has a long history of successfully protecting a diverse range of clients across various industries, including commercial, residential, industrial, and healthcare.
Furthermore, Wincon Security is fully licensed and accredited, ensuring that clients can have complete confidence in their services. They adhere to the highest industry standards and regulations, providing peace of mind to clients and regulatory bodies alike.
Community Engagement
Beyond their professional accomplishments, Wincon Security is also deeply committed to giving back to the community. Their involvement in various charitable initiatives and community events reflects their dedication to making a positive impact beyond the realm of security services. This commitment to social responsibility further underscores their values and integrity as a company.
In a world where security is paramount, Wincon Security emerges as a clear choice for those seeking top-tier security solutions. With unmatched expertise, a comprehensive range of services, cutting-edge technology, exceptional client-centric values, a proven track record, and a commitment to community engagement, Wincon Security sets itself apart as a leading security company in the Greater Toronto Area.
When you choose Wincon Security, you’re not just selecting a security provider; you’re choosing a trusted partner dedicated to safeguarding your assets and ensuring your peace of mind. Contact Wincon Security today, and experience the difference that expertise, innovation, and unwavering commitment can make in protecting what matters most to you. Your security is their priority, and with Wincon Security, you’re in safe hands.
Listen Wincon Security Director of Operations, Sunil Subramanian, on CBC Radio discuss the rampant shoplifting attempts happening today.
In the ever-evolving world of retail, ensuring a seamless shopping experience for customers is of utmost importance. However, amidst this pursuit, one significant challenge retailers face is shoplifting – a pervasive issue that can dent profits and affect the overall shopping environment. Today, we delve into the world of loss prevention with Sunil Subramanian, Director of Operations at Wincon Security and Investigations, a prominent security services provider to retailers, to gain insights into their impactful work in safeguarding businesses against theft.
Unveiling the Retail Theft Landscape
Shoplifting can encompass various forms, and Sunil Subramanian sheds light on the most commonly stolen items at stores served by Wincon Security. These items often include meat products, baby formula, razors, vitamins, batteries, and other small, easily concealable goods. By identifying such patterns, Wincon Security crafts tailored strategies to combat theft, mitigating financial losses for their clients.
Commonly stolen items include:
Meat products
Baby formula
Razors
Vitamins
Batteries
Wincon Security identifies theft patterns to craft tailored strategies for clients.
The Diversity of Shoplifters
Understanding the motives behind shoplifting is crucial in combating this issue effectively. Sunil explains that shoplifters come from diverse backgrounds, and their reasons for theft vary significantly. Some individuals resort to stealing out of necessity, facing hardships such as unemployment, financial struggles, or mental health issues. On the other end of the spectrum, organized retail crime involves orchestrated thefts of large quantities of merchandise. Wincon Security acknowledges this spectrum and employs comprehensive approaches to handle each situation with precision.
Wincon Security’s Loss Prevention Team
To combat shoplifting effectively, Wincon Security employs two categories of workers for their clients: loss prevention officers in plain clothes and uniformed security guards. The plainclothes officers discreetly observe suspects and follow the SCOPE approach, which stands for Selection, Concealment, Observation, Pass Point of Sale, and Exit Point, before making an arrest. On the other hand, uniformed guards serve as visible deterrents, deterring potential shoplifters from attempting theft in the first place.
The Importance of Safety
While well-intentioned bystanders may sometimes attempt to intervene during shoplifting incidents, Sunil Subramanian advises against putting oneself in harm’s way. Wincon Security ensures their security staff receives extensive training to handle such situations professionally and safely. Prioritizing safety not only protects bystanders but also helps maintain a secure shopping environment for everyone.
Balancing Mitigation and Customer Experience
A caller’s concern about being wrongly accused of shoplifting highlights the importance of striking a balance between loss mitigation and customer experience. Sunil urges patience with security measures, emphasizing that in the long run, effective loss prevention benefits both retailers and customers alike. Reduced theft levels lead to decreased inventory costs, potentially resulting in more competitive pricing and a better shopping experience for consumers.
The Impact of Wincon Security’s Efforts
Wincon Security’s commitment to effective loss prevention has yielded positive results for their clients. By crafting the perfect formula for each retailer, they help reduce shoplifting incidents and protect businesses against financial losses. Emphasizing the importance of visual deterrents, Wincon Security encourages their clients to invest in uniformed security guards, enhancing their overall loss prevention strategy.
In conclusion, Wincon Security’s expertise in loss prevention serves as a beacon of hope for retailers seeking to secure their premises and assets. By tailoring solutions to fit each client’s unique needs, the company contributes to a safer shopping environment while fostering trust between businesses and their customers. As retail landscapes continue to evolve, Wincon Security remains at the forefront, steadfast in their mission to safeguard the retail industry from the pervasive issue of shoplifting.
See the transcript
Ian Hanomansing
So we’re here to talk about the shopping experience, but we’re spending a lot of time talking about one part of that experience, which is shoplifting. Our next guest knows a lot about that. Sunil Subramanian specializes in loss prevention. He is the Director of Operations at Wincon Security and Investigations, a major provider of security services to retailers, and he joins us now from Toronto. Sunil, how are you?
Sunil Subramanian
Good, and yourself?
Ian Hanomansing
Good. Thank you very much for joining us. Tell us a little bit about, in your experience working with various retailers, and I know you won’t mention them by name, I appreciate that, but what sorts of things are getting stolen the most at the stores that are run by your clients?
Sunil Subramanian
As you said, there’s various retailers, but when it comes to the theft that’s occurring, we see a lot of loss when it comes to meat products, baby formula, razors, vitamins, batteries, things of that nature, things that you can quickly conceal and get away with.
Ian Hanomansing
Is there any profile of the typical shoplifter? Is it out of necessity that people are shoplifting in order to get just food on their table? Are people part of trying to make money from the products they’re selling? What are you seeing?
Sunil Subramanian
It’s a very broad spectrum. I mean, we’re dealing with people coming out of COVID, loss of employment, loss of income, being forced to take these measures, people dealing with mental health issues, obviously, people with drug abuse, homelessness. But on the flip side of that, we obviously have the organized retail crime that comes in and takes out large quantities as well.
Ian Hanomansing
You have working for your clients through your company at least two categories of workers. You have people who are loss prevention officers in plain clothes, walking through a store, through the aisles. I believe you also have uniform security guards that are there to be visible. When they, either one, spots what they believe is shoplifting in progress, how do they respond to it?
Sunil Subramanian
Again, it varies. When you have the last prevention Guard that is not in uniform, they have a process that they have to follow in order to go through with an arrest. The acronym we use is called SCOPE. That stands for Selection, Concealment, Observation, Pass Point of Sale, and then Pass Point of the Exit Point. Once those five steps have been observed throughout without missing any one point, we are then able to complete the arrest. When it comes to the uniform aspect of it, it’s not as complicated because it doesn’t happen as often. Uniform guards deal more with smash and run, grab and run issues where people know that there’s uniform guards there. They just don’t care anymore. They’re pretty brazen. They’re just trying to get away as fast as possible and run and get away.
Ian Hanomansing
We had a caller earlier this hour, a man in his 60s, or I think he was in his 60s at the time, who saw somebody shoplifting at a store here in Vancouver. There was a security guard who I guess wasn’t intervening. There were a couple of shopkeepers who looked scared. He stood there and refused to let the shoplifter leave. The shoplifter bumped him and the guy stood his ground. I think I know how you’re going to answer this, but what would you say to that bystander who intervened?
Sunil Subramanian
I did watch that segment as well. I appreciate what he did, especially because he had the last pension background as well, but there’s no real reason to put your life in danger for a scenario like that. We don’t know the individuals that we’re dealing with. Our security staff go through do extensive training to be able to deal with people that are committing theft for one reason or another, whether it’s mental health or homelessness culture and things of that nature. But again, as you said to him, maybe not put yourself in harm s way for the sake of a couple of dollars.
Ian Hanomansing
And Sunil, let me ask you about another caller, the woman from I think maybe Edmonton, who said that twice in her life, and she sounds like an older woman, she talked about remembering the grand old days of the department stores in Vancouver, but twice, she was confronted in high end stores by security guards who each time demanded that she open up her purse and empty out the contents because they thought she was stealing. The way she tells the story, she wasn’t stealing. They found nothing. What would you say to her about her experience?
Sunil Subramanian
I apologize that she had a negative experience for whichever retail store she was at, but I do believe in the process process. I think people need to be a little bit patient with it. Look at it from the aspect of maybe it’s not the implication of theft, but more of a mitigation of theft, which in the long run is only going to benefit us. If we’re patient with the process and theft levels come down, inventory pricing is going to go down as well. With the way inflation is right now, that again is only going to benefit all of us in the long run.
Ian Hanomansing
Is it working, the efforts of your company and the clients they hire, does it make a difference? Does it reduce shoplifting?
Sunil Subramanian
It does. It depends on… We have to find the perfect formula, which is what we work on with our clients. We’re trying to push now because of the procedures that are being put in place where you can’t do receipt checks right now, or you can’t do bag checks, there’s no touch policies, there’s things of that nature. We’re encouraging our client base to move towards the uniform from security guard, which is more of a visual deterrent. They can be placed at the entry exit point of your store so people can see them right away. They can be patrolling the point of sale areas so people know they can’t just run straight through and get through. We are encouraging the industry to move in that direction, so as to mitigate more loss. Last but not least.
Ian Hanomansing
Saneel, thank you very much for your insights. Really interesting talking to you.
Sunil Subramanian
You’re welcome. Thanks for having me.
Ian Hanomansing
Saneel Sobranian specializes in loss prevention. He’s a director of operations at Windcon Security and Investigations, a major provider of security services to retailers. He is in Toronto.
How to best guard your factories, goods and systems from the latest risks
As a manufacturer, your job is to keep the wheels in motion for global businesses and consumers alike. Whether you assemble the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, or the food we eat, the world relies on your machinery and skilled workforce to keep us fed, clothed, housed and in motion.
What if a security breach disrupted your vital manufacturing processes? What would be the cost implications for your facility? How might a manufacturing plant security incident effect your entire supply chain — and the consumers and businesses who rely on it?
To be effective, you need a modern manufacturing plant security strategy suited to the times we live in. The threats are changing, along with the technology, physical environments and the more agile, flexible and secure way we need to operate. In October 2021, global executives in a McKinsey survey singled out supply chain turmoil as the greatest threat to growth for both their companies and their countries’ economies – greater than the pandemic, labour shortages, geopolitical instability, war and domestic conflict.
Cyber security – just one major threat to the industry
Perhaps most seriously, the supply chain crisis has led to another problem: cyber security breaches. A 2022 IBM Security report details how in 2021 ransomware criminals attempted to “fracture” the backbone of global supply chains with attacks specifically on manufacturing plants. In fact, manufacturing became 2021’s most attacked industry (23%), overtaking the usual targets: financial services and insurance. An alarming 47% of attacks on manufacturing were caused due to vulnerabilities, and gaps in the system that had not been addressed – and could not be patched in time! According to a 2022 Deloitte survey of manufacturing sector executives, Eighty-two percent expect their organizations will invest more in cybersecurity in 2022, with nearly one quarter budgeting at least 10% more than in 2021.
But what about physical security – the threats to your equipment, warehouses, machinery – and workforce? How has that changed? Is physical security still as important?
Acts of violence and injuries have become the third-leading cause of fatal occupational injuries in the US, according to OSHA. Closer to home in Ontario, we are seeing an increase in workplace injuries and fatalities, particularly in the manufacturing sector.
One of the problems is this: many industrial facilities across North America still lack the strong physical security programs required today.
It’s not just about adding layers to your physical security. Manufacturers today need to take an integrated and modern approach to risk mitigation – and invest in a manufacturing security strategy custom fit for their specific facility.
So how can you best keep your production lines humming – and sleep better at night?
Here are three ways to bolster your manufacturing plant security
1. Access control – through authorization, identification, and cards.
Access control should be central to any manufacturing security plant security strategy in the post COVID world. With it, you can ensure no one has access to restricted areas and machinery, except authorized and fully vetted personnel.
In the old days, simple gates, barriers, and guards sufficed. Today, however, a vast range of technology-driven solutions exist that will ensure you more robust and reliable security technology suited to the needs of modern manufacturing facilities.
These technologies use one or more of the following approaches to ensure only authorized users get access:
Authorization: through individual passwords, PINs, or special codes
Identification: through mobile phones, phone numbers, hardware keys or identity card
Recognition: through advanced systems and the latest Biometrics: think fingerprints, voice recognition and iris scans!
Access cards: a good place to start.
Access cards themselves can be the easiest solution, especially for larger facilities where only certain people require access to certain rooms. These cards can even be coded to restrict access to these areas to certain times, dates, or hours, to ensure no nighttime visits transpire and to prevent entry at unapproved or unpatrolled hours of the day or night.
Access control is effective in curbing unwarranted entry and undocumented use of your facility. But it also serves to protect your people. By ensuring that only fully trained and authorized employees get access to machinery and industrial zones, you are taking an important step to avoid on-site accidents, injuries, and damages – even plant emergencies– all commonly caused by human error.
2. Surveillance – CCTV security cameras for manufacturing plants
It’s no longer enough to have either cameras or guards. You must have both. And when it comes to CCTV units, the technology, usage, and monitoring requirements have changed.
The right surveillance strategy — combining physical guards on site and CCTV units — is vital to ensure the physical security of the plant and its premises. The trend today is not to use CCTV cameras to replace guards, but rather to extend their reach and empower them to do their job in a more effective way.
Certainly, modern CCTV technology has increased the scale of video surveillance improving the quality of monitoring and incident handling. Round-the-clock live remote monitoring brings benefits beyond crime and accident prevention. They can be used to monitor operational efficiencies, track the arrival and dispatch of products, and even watch inventory levels.
But when it comes to risk mitigation CCTVs are a must have. With fewer personnel on site, cameras installed in low traffic areas can help keep you stay alert to undocumented ingresses and egresses, mechanical failures – and even critical accidents and injuries that might occur in isolated places. Monitored video cameras can watch the entire property simultaneously. It can also monitor areas where it’s not safe for people to go like on the roof and in certain areas of the building because of the machinery.
Plant owners and security executives are seeing the light – and rushing to adopt the latest CCTVs in droves. It’s a trend underscored by recent statistics: the global video surveillance market is estimated to increase by about $30 billion by 2025.
There is no question that when it comes to manufacturing plant security, the latest automated CCTV cameras integrated with your alarm system and the right security personnel, are your best bet to mitigate risk during these changing times.
3. Security guards – vigilant, tech savvy, and specially trained for manufacturing facilities
Despite the rise of complex technologies, systems, and a move away from the human element, the right guards are an essential component of any modern manufacturing plant security strategy.
Security guards for manufacturing plants need to be specially trained and equipped. They will need to possess a requisite level of knowledge and skills in:
Your manufacturing plant rules and protocols
Your mechanical processes and machinery, respond expertly in the event of an accident
The complex layout of your facility, including your warehousing and industrial zones
The latest technology including CCTV, access cards and other technology driven systems protect your facility
Guards you can trust:
Today, it is more critical than ever to only work with reputable security firms that provide only well-trained, and carefully screened security personnel. This is especially the case in light of some crimes being committed from the inside – by guards not fully vetted and background checked.
By trusting in a reputable security guard firm, you rest easy that the guards on duty will never be the ones committing crimes. You will also be more equipped with the right crew trained to spot any internal or external transgression and take steps to stop criminals in their path.
A good place to start: conduct a manufacturing security risk assessment.
The first big step to beefing up your security is getting a holistic, detailed risk assessment. An in-depth survey of your facility’s vulnerabilities will inform what types of security you need to invest in and how to implement your security strategy.
Integrated solutions manufacturing security — for today and tomorrow
Today, manufacturing facilities face a variety of threats, from workplace accidents to factory security breaches and supply chain disruption. The ultimate solution lies in an integrated approach – CCTVs, guards, access controls and new protocols all working together to secure your physical premises and people, no matter what.
Winston Stewart, CEO & Founder
For more than 30 years, Wincon Security has delivered property monitoring and protective services to retail, commercial, industrial and condominium clients across the Greater Toronto Area.You can rest assured all our security guards are fully trained, carefully vetted, and ready to be deployed to keep your assets and people protected in the post-COVID world.
Are you worried about warehouse security issues? Wondering if logistic security protocols have changed since the pandemic? Many industrial facility owners have emerged from the COVID 19 crisis uncertain about what warehouse security services are now needed, especially for large distribution centres. Perhaps you too are re-evaluating your security protocols?
Should you be more worried about crime and risk than before? According to rising theft statistics in warehouse facilities, absolutely!
Each year, cargo theft costs the Canadian economy $5 billion – and often goes unreported. And there is another exciting trend that global security experts are reporting in the post-COVID world: a rise in theft at warehousing facilities: a clear shift from incidents occurring when goods are in transit to when they are at rest, in storage. In short: a joint report suggests storage locations for goods have become critical risk areas in the post-COVID world. Globally, cargo thefts at storage facilities have risen by nearly 30%
From in transit to warehouse theft occurrences: the big problem in logistic security
According to CargoNet, in the US alone, net losses from cargo theft rose from 49 million dollars in 2019 to 68 million dollars in 2020 – with financial losses 10 times more than the value of the stolen goods. But the interesting fact is this: Whereas cargo on the roads used to be the target, according to the 2021 Cargo Theft Report more thieves are targeting cargo at warehouses, distribution centers, and truck stops.
How ‘close to home’ in Ontario is this rising trend of warehouse security breaches?
In April 2022, a trio of thieves in the Durham region staged several break-and-enters at Stor-It Oshawa Police searched another nearby facility finding nearly 200 stolen items and more than two litres of GHB (a psychoactive drug). And in May 2022, $1 million dollars of goods were stolen (and subsequently recovered by police) from an LCBO warehouse south of Whitby. Security companies in Toronto and the surrounding area will need to step up to the challenge of rising crime incidents like these.
For facility owners, warehouse security issues go beyond simple theft. A new approach to logistic security is needed.
Here are five of the most pressing warehouse security issues you will face in 2022 and 2023 – and tips on how to address them:
1. Break-Ins
One of the main security risks to any warehouse or storage facility is break-ins. These incidents can cost you both in goods stolen, but also damage to your facilities (doors and windows broken, machinery damaged) – and pose a risk to your employees. Break-ins happen when your warehouse is not properly secured, the right type or number of guards are not present, and weaknesses exist in your security infrastructure.
What can you do? Here are a few tips (and more can be found below under “external theft”)
1. Update your warehouse security cameras. Not only a great deterrent for thieves who plan to break in, but modern security camera systems can also collect high-definition footage and upload it to an offsite server to make the identification of trespassers easier.
2. Boost warehouse lighting. Keeping warehouse facilities well-lit is a crucial safety measure—both to prevent theft, and accidents and to reduce incidents of break-ins
3. More security patrols. It’s no longer enough to just have guards. More than ever, you’ll need to ensure they are fully trained and diligent in making the rounds to verify that there are no intruders lurking in security camera blind spots.
2. Health and Safety
Large heavy skids, forklifts, pump jacks – and other big pieces of equipment and machinery in your warehouse pose a safety risk to your workers you may not have fully considered.
If used incorrectly, or without security personnel who are fully trained to respond to emergency situations, you leave your facility open to serious incidents; accidents can happen that can lead to injuries, losses – and even death.
If you have employees working in your warehouse, it is important to ensure that they are safe and feel protected. This means that your warehouse or industrial facility should be secure and only accessible to employed workers and properly trained security staff.
Here are some other ways to boost health and safety at your warehouse facility:
Make safety equipment use always mandatory. Ensure proper protective gear, as well as the use of safety equipment such as forklifts or hydraulic lifts to raise bulky products, are enforced to prevent major injuries of all kinds.
Eliminate potential safety hazards. Ensure that floors are free of slip and trip hazards. Also, make regular checks on any potential hazards: electrical cords, spilled liquids, debris, cracks, and pits on the floor. These can cause severe injuries to employees and damage valuable machinery and cargo.
Provide health and safety employee training. By training your employees on best warehouse security practices, you can ensure a safer workplace with fewer accidents – and encourage people to follow procedures more closely.
3. Fires & Flooding
There are few more catastrophic incidents than the breakout of a warehouse fire. Not only will it destroy or damage your goods, machinery and building infrastructure, but it can also put the lives of your staff members in danger. Whether accidental or intentionally set, the threat of fire is a risk that your security plan needs to address and mitigate.
Nearly as devastating as fire is the risk of flooding. As with fire, water can seriously damage your stored goods, along with your building infrastructure. Whether due to poor weather or issues with plumbing, it is essential to plan for this disastrous event – and be ready to respond should a flooding event ever happen.
Here are a few effective methods to help mitigate warehouse fires and floods:
Install fire suppression systems, such as sprinklers, fire doors, and fire extinguishers
Have security personnel regularly inspect fire detection systems, such as smoke alarms.
Conduct regular flood risk assessments and inspections to identify any areas or goods that are particularly susceptible to flood damage.
Ensure you hire warehouse security guards fully trained in fire and flood detection and response.
4. External Theft
The most common type of warehouse security issue involves criminals entering your facility and stealing your warehouse goods. Incidents like this are more likely to occur if your warehouse is not secure. They can lead to a great deal more than a few items being stolen; losses and damage can be so dramatic that they threaten the future of your business.
How can you guard against theft by criminals at your warehouse facility? Here are some tips:
Improve Lighting, inside and outside. Dark areas in and around your warehouse make it easier for criminals to go unnoticed. Adding extra lighting makes it easier for staff and security guards to immediately identify anything suspicious. Pay special attention to external areas, including perimeter fences, entrances, exits and parking lots.
Secure your windows. Windows are a weak point in any building, including industrial facilities; they are an easy entry point for thieves. Where your warehouse has ground-level windows, make sure they are shatter-resistant. You may also wish to consider security systems specifically for broken windows, where a microphone picks up the sound of smashed glass, and triggers a loud alert to warn thieves and rally security personnel.
Maximize video surveillance. Security cameras are the best way to monitor large areas, especially those in low traffic zones and vulnerable areas of your warehouse. Combined with good lighting, cameras give you visibility of any suspicious activity. The presence of cameras is also a strong deterrent to would-be thieves, both internally and externally
5. Internal theft – Employees: the biggest concern
In September 2020, $150,00 in cell phones were stolen from an Alberta warehouse. More recently an Amazon warehouse in BC had hundreds of thousands of products stolen and, $70,00 worth of appliances were not long ago recovered from a warehouse theft in Abbotsford, Alberta. Was the culprit a desperate outside criminal? No – these were crimes committed by warehouse employees themselves!
With the difficulties of COVID, a tough economy and changing times, a rise in employee theft is being reported across many industries, including industrial storage and warehousing. Have you noticed inconsistencies in your sales records? Invoices are missing or appear as duplicates. Or stock is constantly found near exits or loading bays? You may be a victim of internal theft.
Lower traffic, fewer staff, higher risks:
A lot has changed since COVID. You may have laid off staff or become less vigilant in your hiring practices. With fewer people on site, more attention needs to be paid to who works for you – and the logistic security systems and guards in place.
What can your facility do to combat internal employee theft? Here are some tips:
Beef up your background checks before hiring warehouse staff. Whether you use your own HR professionals or hire a company, it is critical to do your due diligence on new hires before letting them into your facility
Toughen up and communicate your company policy on theft. Now is the time to communicate a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to theft or fraud. You may wish to have employees sign a code of conduct that clearly outlines how violations will be punished.
Better security guards: Recruit only fully trained and trusted warehouse security personnel. Inside jobs can also occur through the security staff you have contracted that man your facility. Today, it is more critical than ever to only work with reputable security firms that provide only well-trained, carefully screened and fully vetted security personnel. Not only will you rest easy that the guards on duty will never be the ones committing crimes, but they will also be more able and alert to spot any internal or external transgression and take steps to stop criminals in their path.
Conduct internal financial audits of logistic operations. Signs of employee theft and fraud that may be hidden out of sight in your warehouse or logistics centre may be revealed in during the course of an internal financial audit of the operations. Irregularities in accounting details may be the first clue that something is out of order and warrants investigation. This can be the first step in identifying and stopping ongoing theft that may otherwise go unnoticed for years! This approach may be especially effective where the theft or fraud is sophisticated or organized. Internal audits of operations can also be an effective tool for improving performance and productivity. If you do not have an internal audit staff of your own, contact your accountants or an accounting firm with audit capabilities like Deloitte or Peat Marwick.
A more “tech-forward” warehouse security services approach is needed now:
Ultimately, the world is changing – and security needs for warehouse and industrial facilities owners are too. To keep up, you’ll need logistic security and warehousing teams that are honest, reliable, and fully trained in the newest technologies – including leading-edge computers, access systems and CCTV units. With a reduced staff and rising crime, you will need to make security your number one priority
Choose the right systems, staff, and guards — and the future of your warehouse will be a brighter one!
Winston Stewart, CEO & Founder
Perhaps our most important lesson over the past 30 years is the importance of building and maintaining a strong employee culture powered by extraordinary professionals. We’re very lucky to have both, and it’s one of the main reasons why we’ve been able to maintain long-standing relationships with so many clients. As we say, Wincon Security is Built On Service—Driven By Culture. It’s more than a tagline.
There are many Toronto security providers, but very few maintain lasting relationships with the property owners/managers they serve. As we celebrate our 30th year in business here at Wincon Security, we’re proud to continue working with companies that have relied on us from our very first day in business. That type of customer satisfaction and retention speaks to the dedication of our team and an approach focused on servicing your unique security needs.
As our customers, we put your security experience above all else. We’ve worked to earn your trust and maintain your business by delivering leading-edge protective coverage built around an integrated approach to security and service excellence. That focus remains to this day. We’re constantly researching the latest security systems and technology to keep your people and property safe while making enhancements to our team through training and customer service innovations.
Along the way, we’ve learned a great deal about what it takes to exceed your security expectations, finding ways to ease your security burden so you can grow your business, improve your community, or better service the stakeholders that matter most to you. That means being a true partner and working to understand your ever-changing security needs. Here are a few of the key takeaways as we celebrate 30 years of Toronto security success.
One of our key differentiators as a security company is the comprehensive pre-deployment training we provide to our guards. They’re never allowed to work on-site until they’ve completed all industry-mandated training and certification, our own pre-deployment training program and are fully briefed on details relevant to the protection of your people and property.
Toronto security starts with strategy
All too often, security firms will assign guards to a site after clients request service, but with little thought beyond covering hours. Early on we asked ourselves a key question: How can we not only provide exceptional security coverage but do so in a way that helps our clients achieve their larger business goals?
We realized that it takes strategy to provide extraordinary security service. We place a strong emphasis on working with your team to understand your needs and then design an effective security plan to protect your people, property and assets. That means working with your leadership team to understand your budget, the unique features of your property, the composition of your resident/tenant/customer/client base and the experience you hope to deliver to them.
We take it a step further by providing insights into ways you can further improve your security infrastructure. Sometimes that can be as simple as improving lighting in certain areas. Our security integration solutions, for example, offer cutting-edge technology tools from HD CCTV cameras to biometric entry systems that add an impressive layer of protection and complement the work of our security guards. Most importantly, developing an effective security strategy requires communication and a commitment to regularly reviewing plans as your coverage needs evolve.
A proactive and reactive approach to Toronto security
By thinking and acting proactively, our security guards are trained to spot problems before they create legal liabilities or non-compliance risks for your organization or residential community. That’s often as simple as being on the lookout for red flags such as frozen mechanical room pipes during the winter months or ensuring that doors are secured to mitigate the risk of unauthorized building entry. But as Wincon supervisors constantly remind our team, proactive security coverage is more of a mindset than a tactic. It involves a willingness to go above and beyond, to step out from behind the desk in order to provide a better level of protection.
On the reactive side, we’re dedicated to near-immediate response times when an incident occurs. Our supervisors are on call 24 hours a day and are ready to react as needed. Wincon Security guards are also trained in effective incident report writing to help document issues and mitigate legal liability, along with fire response, de-escalation tactics and crisis management, among other reactive techniques. When you need us, in other words, we’re there.
Effective training for the best possible Toronto security experience
One of our key differentiators as a security company is the comprehensive pre-deployment training we provide to our guards. They’re never allowed to work on-site until they’ve completed all industry-mandated training and certification, our own pre-deployment training program and are fully briefed on details relevant to the protection of your people and property.
That includes technical considerations such as on-site fire panel or elevator operation, as well as having a full profile of the individuals or community they’ve been assigned to protect. If you manage a condo property with a majority senior resident population, for example, our guards will be fully briefed and aware that special care may be needed to assist residents or to implement specialized evacuation procedures in case of emergency.
Nothing can replace a strong team
Winston Stewart, CEO & Founder
Perhaps our most important lesson over the past 30 years is the importance of building and maintaining a strong employee culture powered by extraordinary professionals. We’re very lucky to have both, and it’s one of the main reasons why we’ve been able to maintain long-standing relationships with so many clients. As we say, Wincon Security is Built On Service—Driven By Culture. It’s more than a tagline.
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Parking enforcement is a challenge across condo communities and commercial properties. The good news is that Wincon Security delivers a turnkey parking enforcement service. We start by asking questions about the stakeholders that live in, or use, your property.Property managers and their security teams are responsible for ensuring that unauthorized parking doesn’t occur on a property, they often run up against a raft of obstacles to enforcement. This creates a spiral effect where it becomes difficult for residents, tenants (think office complexes) or customers (in retail settings) to find parking, impacting their experience and/or ability to shop or work.
In condo communities, for example, visitor parking spaces can easily become overrun by vehicles that don’t belong on the property—namely areas frequented by tourists, or where people may look for inexpensive or free parking (residential properties near shopping malls or main-street retail districts, for example). This becomes an immediate (and obvious) issue because most properties lack enough space to accommodate residents, guests, as well as unauthorized visitors. In condo complexes, the number of parking spaces is controlled, with each suite entitled to a set number of visitor permits per month. In the absence of adequate parking enforcement services, individuals may take advantage of the opportunity to fill limited parking spaces with unauthorized visitors, with the potential for lots to quickly become filled.
The same is true with overnight parking, which is usually also tightly controlled. While some buildings will set different limits for day and night visitor or resident parking, overnight parking is almost always strictly managed with permits.
The benefits of parking enforcement services
Sustained and effective parking enforcement services are about more than convenience. It’s a way to ensure that business can be properly conducted or that residents can access their property as needed. In that sense, it becomes a bottom-line issue.
If parking is a nightmare at a shopping mall, customers will seek out other retail options. If residents don’t have access to parking in their own building—in particular seniors, who may have mobility issues and are unable to walk long distances—a lack of parking can make a residential property less desirable. If clients can’t park when they visit your office for a meeting and are faced with delays or parking-related inconveniences, it can have an immediate negative impact on your brand.
In that sense, the benefits of parking enforcement services are numerous, including:
Preventing transient parking
Ensuring that parking is available for all residents, by having a limited number of registrations per month
Ensuring full compliance and satisfaction among residents, tenants or customers
Keeping fire routes clear for emergency services</span
Ensuring ample access to disabled parking spaces, as needed
Parking enforcement tactics
So, what are your rights as a property owner or manager when it comes to parking enforcement?As the property owner, you can control who parks on your property. Consent is provided when someone pays or is given a permit—and if they don’t receive consent, they can be ticketed for parking on private property without your permission.
Issuing and limiting parking permits in residential communities or introducing paid parking in commercial settings—potentially with validation options for customers—are some of the most efficient approaches to making parking enforcement services more effective.While rules vary by municipality, for commercial and sometimes residential properties, it’s generally possible to enforce paid parking by checking for payment and issuing tickets to vehicles that have not paid.
Once the site is approved by the local municipality, security firms can issue tickets for infractions including:
Parking in a fire route
Parking in a designated handicap spot
Parking on private property without consent
The caveat is that as a property owner/manager, you must comply with local regulations before implementing a parking enforcement strategy. That typically includes the aforementioned site approval, and the posting of appropriate signage indicating parking restrictions.
Parking enforcement best practices
The process may seem overwhelming at first. The good news is that Wincon Security delivers a turnkey parking enforcement service. We start by asking questions about the stakeholders that live in, or use, your property. What are your strategic goals as a property owner? If it’s about creating a positive retail experience, for example, that starts the minute your customers drive into your parking lot. How can your parking enforcement strategy improve their shopping visit?
The best approach is to ensure that parking enforcement occurs without confrontation. Overly aggressive enforcement is a common problem among some security providers. Typically, parking enforcement should occur when a site is experiencing the greatest challenges with parking control. It may not make sense to patrol a commercial lot for parking violations at midnight, for example, whereas a condo may experience greater parking violations overnight.
Our focus on security guard training ensures that our team takes a fair, reasonable and consistent approach to parking enforcement services. We encourage strong communications with your stakeholders (e.g., residents, tenants, or customers), making them aware of new or existing parking regulations and clearly explaining the reasons for enforcement and the consequences of violation.
It’s our way of ensuring that your parking enforcement strategy delivers results without exacerbating existing challenges. It’s about going the extra step to be a true partner to your organization.
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Winston Stewart, President and CEO Wincon Security
Choosing the right security company in Toronto for your needs can be a game-changer. That’s true for any business or organization that requires ongoing protective services—from commercial and office properties and retailers to condo communities and institutions such as post-secondary educational or healthcare facilities. Effective security coverage can help mitigate the risk of legal liability, theft or vandalism, can help enhance your brand and proactively highlight opportunities for improvement in areas such as security technology integration and emergency response protocols.
But all too often, organizations struggle to find security service providers they can rely on. That’s because many security companies take a passive approach when providing coverage. They often face chronic staffing shortages due to high employee turnover, will win new business, and then struggle to fill positions. This typically results in frantic recruitment leading to the deployment of ill- or untrained guards who are disengaged. The resulting poor on-site performance would be familiar to many organizations that have cycled through a number of security providers: guards who fall asleep at their monitoring stations, who show up to work missing their proper uniform, or who fail to complete basic duties during a guarding shift.
It’s not entirely the guards’ fault. In many cases the performance expectations are low, the employee coaching is non-existent and the consequences for the ensuing poor performance are almost entirely absent—until the situation gets so bad that the employee is fired and the process starts over again with the next recruit.
Want to avoid turnover in security providers, along with the risk associated with sub-par security service? Then be prepared to conduct careful due diligence when hiring your next security company. Here’s a checklist of questions that every organization should ask to help make the process as simple and streamlined as possible:
Does the firm provide pre-deployment training to their guards?
It’s important that before a guard is assigned to a client site, they are fully briefed on the technical and personnel/community details relevant to that property, any technical considerations (e.g., use of fire panels, elevator control panels, etc.) and challenges those guards may face during a shift. Additional training points include risk and liability mitigation, fire response procedures, and incident reporting.
Does the Toronto security company offer integrated security solutions?
From High-definition TurboHD and IP cameras to biometric identification and verification systems, leading security companies will be equipped to help address the full scope of your security requirements. Consulting, procuring, and installing relevant technology is a critical piece of the protective services puzzle. So, too, is being able to service that equipment and help you stay a step ahead by making regular upgrades and system enhancement recommendations. If a firm can’t offer integrated security solutions, they aren’t delivering a comprehensive suite of services.
Does the security company take a strategic approach?
From the moment the Wincon Security supervisory team engages with your organization, their discussions will centre on your strategic operational needs. Some of the most important considerations include:
Your operational requirements and objectives (think everything from proprietary information and building access points to vulnerable areas and product/personnel specifications)
Any other detail that may enhance our service offering
At that point, we develop a comprehensive security plan designed to service your needs. If a Toronto security company isn’t prepared to discuss strategy, but simply offers to assign guards to watch over your property or business, don’t expect them to meet your coverage needs.
Does the security company embrace proactive and reactive tactics?
It’s easy for a security company to react to a situation after it occurs—think of a slip-and-fall incident or a burst water pipe in a mechanical room. It’s another for that same firm to train its security professionals to think and act proactively, to spot potential issues (including legal and compliance liabilities) before they occur and, when necessary, to respond to incidents in a timely and effective manner. It takes ongoing reinforcement to ensure that security personnel are on the constant lookout for potential problems and take the opportunity to address these issues before they result in otherwise preventable incidents.
From fire response, report writing and de-escalation training to comprehensive first aid/CPR/AED certifications, our guards are well-equipped to deal with situations on a proactive and reactive basis. That includes completing the industry-mandated security training program for guards in Ontario. Not every firm trains to this level or has such stringent security guard qualification requirements, so be prepared to ask questions to ensure that a prospective security provider is equipped to meet your expectations.
Does the firm maintain a strong company culture?
Ask about how the firm works to boost employee engagement, retention and professional development. If those aren’t priorities, then it’s time to look for another provider. Top security companies in Toronto will go out of their way to properly train and motivate their employees while reinforcing a culture of service excellence. In our case, we have team members that have been with Wincon Security for more than 20 years. That’s a testament to our commitment to our people and their professional success. Not many firms can boast that kind of employee retention track record—and it’s a clear indicator of strong company culture.
Remember that it pays to take the time to conduct the necessary due diligence and select the right security company to protect your people, property, and assets. It’s a process that can require research and vetting, but when you find the right provider, the investment is fully worthwhile. Just ask the clients that have been with Wincon Security since the day our company was founded 30 years ago.
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It goes without saying that 2020 is a year that many of us will be glad to forget, just as we look forward to a socially distanced and happy holiday with loved ones. Indeed, the coronavirus pandemic has challenged everyone from individual Canadians and healthcare professionals to business owners and bureaucrats in ways that we couldn’t have imagined as recently as early March. But the many struggles of the COVID-19 crisis have also reaffirmed our strength and resilience as a country. In the face of adversity, we adapted and managed, even as we continue to mourn the many lives lost and the scores of businesses brought down by the ensuing economic disruption.
The security industry has not been immune to the pandemic’s harsh economic impact. Companies large and small have reeled as affected sectors such as hospitality, travel and retail were forced into shutdown mode or were suddenly required to scale back business in ways that immediately lessened the need for security coverage. But I’m proud to say that through it all, Wincon Security has managed to not only navigate these stormy waters, but thrive.
The reason, of course, is because we’ve built incredible partnerships with our many clients. Their loyalty and support has been pivotal to Wincon’s success for more than 26 years, and in hard times, they’ve remained by our side. We’re grateful for the opportunity to protect their people, property and assets, and we can’t wait to see how we can find new ways to meet their security needs in the years ahead. The push to constantly improve is a core value, one that we embrace and also consider a responsibility that we simply won’t take for granted—it will continue to drive us to deliver even better service to our customers long after this pandemic has passed.
Case in point: We made significant investments to upgrade our technology infrastructure this year, while also working to enhance our employee training and development programs. We believe that delivering effective security solutions is about far more than doing the basics. In most cases, our security personnel are not only frontline representatives of Wincon Security, but also of our clients’ brands—be they retailers, commercial property managers, or any company in between. Their work on-site can significantly impact that brand experience, which is why we constantly strive for new ways to enhance our team’s customer service skills with real-world, situational training.
Of course, helping our customers succeed means staying at the forefront of new technology reshaping our industry. We’ve continued to research the latest in security software and hardware from facial-recognition cameras to advanced biometric systems that could have applications across both commercial and residential properties. That work is ongoing as we enhance our organizational commitment to research and development, which includes enhancing our own back-end technology infrastructure—a critical investment that enabled much of our administrative staff to work remotely during the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, none of our success would be possible were it not for the tireless dedication, professionalism and hard work of our team members. At the pandemic’s peak, they put themselves in higher-risk public settings to ensure that our clients’ properties and people were kept safe and secure. They neither complained nor refused the challenge. Instead, they made it to work each and every day with an attitude that exemplified the very best that Wincon Security has to offer.
To better protect them, we recently implemented a new Whistleblower Program that provides a mechanism to report everything from sexual harassment to any form of unwelcome behaviour experienced while on the job. We’re committed to providing a safe, welcoming and fruitful workplace experience—and we’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that our company culture isn’t negatively impacted by unacceptable behaviour. Our whistleblower directive to employees is simple: If you see something, say something.
So, as we look back on 2020 and raise a glass with the promise of a better 2021 ahead, I’d like to take the opportunity to wish you and your family a happy holiday and a healthy New Year. While rising COVID-19 case counts remind us that difficult months still lie ahead, vaccines give us hope that a return to normal is on the horizon. This year proved that we can make it to the finish line—safely, securely, together.
When the COVID-19 outbreak took hold in March, it was difficult to imagine the size and scope of the challenge that lay ahead. Industries ground to a halt as social-distancing measures forced the closure of everything from offices to recreational facilities. Businesses and their employees faced unprecedented uncertainty. Security firms such as ours weren’t spared from the widespread economic impact.
While some clients needed less of our time, many sectors called on us to do more—much more—to help them weather the coronavirus storm. Business leaders quickly realized the degree to which they needed trained security professionals to help them manage everything from store line-ups to protecting shuttered office buildings. Perhaps most importantly, those who needed additional help from Wincon Security came to understand that we could protect their people, property, and assets, but we were also well-positioned to become an extension of their brand. Because our people are well-trained and committed to providing industry-leading service, they could rely on us to positively reflect their company values and uphold their service standards.
Specifically, they could rely on you—our employees—to make the very best of a very challenging COVID-19 situation.
By no means are we out of COVID-19 crisis mode as a second wave of the outbreak looms large. We’re likely to face more difficulties in the weeks and months ahead before we can put this pandemic behind us. But I know that because of your dedication and commitment to excellence, our company will emerge from this stronger than ever. The past six months have only proved what I already knew about each and every one of you: You care. You’re passionate about servicing our clients. You want to make your communities better by helping to make them safer. You want to help our company grow and achieve even greater success together.
Through it all, you not only showed up for work every day, but you demonstrated unbelievable engagement and professionalism. Our competitors faced widespread labour shortages, but all of you ensured that we were able to meet client demand for our services. And you did it with a smile from behind our Wincon-branded face masks. At times that meant exposing yourselves to the general public to do your jobs. But you did it without complaining because that’s what was needed.
As a business owner, I couldn’t be more proud of your hard work and commitment to becoming better at your jobs every day. You’ve proven once again that Wincon is a partner to our clients—be they on the commercial property, retail, condominium or residential sides.
Along the way we’ve taken efforts to ensure your safety in the workplace, whether it’s in the office or at client sites. That meant investing in personal protective equipment (PPE), and sanitizers, increased cleaning of everything from our headquarters to patrol vehicles and even purchasing those aforementioned reusable Wincon masks. Rest assured, we’ll continue making the necessary investments to keep you safe and healthy on the job. Nothing is more important to us than your well-being, as well as that of our customers and partners. We hope the new workplace normal—however it continues to evolve—alleviates the need for such stringent health and safety measures, but that day could still be a long way off.
In the meantime, our strategy is focused on finding innovative ways to service our clients as the COVID-19 pandemic carries on. Many of you have shared ideas to help us find new efficiencies and service-delivery methods as we’ve worked to achieve that goal. We invite you to continue making suggestions and thinking about ways to make Wincon and even better security provider.
As a company built on service and driven by culture, we have the tools we need to make it through this pandemic. Let’s continue working together to achieve our goals and prove once again that there is no emergency situation that our team can’t handle.
A fire, flood, natural disaster, or an incident involving a disgruntled employee threatening violence. Preparing for an emergency is critical to ensuring the safety and security of employees or residents across your properties. But if that’s the case, why are so few commercial property owners prepared to handle just such an event?
In our experience, fewer than 10 percent of commercial property owners or condominium corporations take proactive steps to develop comprehensive emergency preparedness and disaster response plan (EPDRP). Those that do rarely communicate the plan or conduct drills to ensure that, in the case of an emergency, the action plan is executed properly. To say this is an oversight would be a huge understatement.
It’s critical for organizations to maintain an easily deployed EPDRP to avoid any unnecessary loss of life in the event of an emergency, as well as to mitigate the threat of litigation or penalties for not taking the necessary, reasonable steps to be prepared. Now, you may be wondering—particularly if this is your first time thinking about the topic—how to design an EPDRP. It’s a good question and one that we’re asked whenever we engage a new client.
With that in mind, here are seven steps for designing an emergency action plan that makes sense for your commercial property and assets:
Wincon Security personnel are fully trained to manage on-site emergencies, even when a formal EPDRP hasn’t been drafted.
Assess the risk—This is the critical first step we recommend when developing any EPDRP. Every property is different, and so are the individuals who either work or live there. To fully understand the risk, you’ll first need to understand what could happen in an emergency situation, even unlikely ones. If your building is in a known flood plain or a tornado-prone area, for example, your plan should reflect those potential risks. If yours is a commercial property, assess the risk from the kinds of activities that are conducted on the premises. If you produce chemicals, for example, your risk levels will be far greater than those at a warehouse facility. In addition, do a headcount to determine how many individuals live or work on site. If you’re a condominium corporation responsible for the well-being of thousands of tenants in an ultra-high-rise building (a scenario I discussed in my last post), the complexity of designing an emergency evacuation action plan will be far greater than in a building of fewer than 10 stories.
Ensure full legislative and insurance compliance—Depending on the location of your property, there may be a set of provincially-mandated emergency preparedness rules and regulations that need to be followed in order to ensure full compliance with local legislation and requirements set out by your insurer. Work with your lawyer, HR team and stakeholders such as local fire or police departments to understand your obligations and ensure that your EPDRP not only complies but even exceeds those minimum requirements. The last thing you need in the event of a catastrophic emergency is to face litigation or legislative penalties because you didn’t take the necessary steps to obey relevant laws pertaining to emergency preparedness and evacuation procedures.
Consult with your security firm and appropriate first responders—Again, police, fire, and paramedics are great resources to contact when developing an EPDRP. Whether preparing plans designed to respond to a potentially horrific incident such as a live-shooter scenario at one of your properties, or taking steps to ensure speedy evacuation in the event of a major fire, first responders are obliged to provide information pertaining to legislative requirements and are (at least in my experience) eager to help mitigate risk for property owners, while minimizing the threat of loss of life in an emergency situation.
Of course, your security firm will be another important resource to help develop an EPDRP. Any reputable firm should even be able to offer a templated plan, then assist in customizing it to suit your specific needs.
We often work with clients to prepare a custom emergency action plan just for them.
Train all security staff—This is a critical step. In our case, all Wincon Security personnel are fully trained to manage on-site emergencies, even in cases where a formal EPDRP hasn’t been drafted (we typically work with clients to prepare these plans as part of our onboarding process). Your security team members will usually be your very first responders and will likely be the ones making a call to police, fire or paramedics in the event of an emergency—while also meeting first responders and answering questions when they first arrive on site. Security personnel should be fully trained to handle any emergency incident that could reasonably occur on your property. Remember, every building is different, and its occupant population is unique. An EPDRP must be customized to suit all stakeholders’ needs.
Have a plan to stabilize the situation—So, you have an emergency, your security team helps evacuate the premises and now you have several hundred residents or dozens of employees waiting outside the property for first responders to arrive. Now what? Any comprehensive EPDRP should also have a stabilization plan that includes details on where to shelter accident victims until help arrives on the scene, for example, or a relocation spot in the event of a natural disaster that threatens your property. Simply clearing the building isn’t good enough.
Communicate the plan—Many companies go through the motions of creating an EPDRP, only to let it gather literal or proverbial dust on a shelf or in a hard drive. The only effective plan is the one that your security team, management, staff, and other key stakeholders fully understand. Include an EPDRP briefing in your employee onboarding process, then provide a refresher on the plan at least once a year. We even recommend giving everyone from security staff to rank-and-file employees a brief, basic quiz to ensure they understand key points such as how to exit the building from their workstation.
Practice—Remember those annoying fire drills you used to do in school? Well, it turns out they were a pretty useful tool—and they still are. Be prepared to practice emergency procedures such as having employees or residents evacuate your building, and execute steps laid out in your EPDRP. Drills should be conducted at least twice a year—and at random times—to make sure your people know how to respond if, or when, disaster strikes.
Why you need to prepare a return-to-work security plan now
As lockdown measures are slowly eased across Ontario and the rest of Canada, organizations are preparing to return to the new COVID-19 workplace normal. But nothing is simple when it comes to navigating the uncharted waters of social distancing and industry-wide lockdowns–especially when it comes to developing a return-to-work security plan.
While a return to the business may still be weeks away for organizations in some parts of the province, no one can afford to be idle. As a business owner/leader, you need to start planning today to ensure that your workplace is as safe and secure as possible once your employees return to the fold—and that you comply with all relevant government health and safety rules and regulations.
“It will happen in phases, it will be very complex and it will look different for every organization.”
Bill Knightly, Cushman and Wakefield’s Chief Operating Officer of Global Occupier Services
Security plays a key role
Of course, safety and security planning is about much more than ensuring the availability of sanitizers and protective equipment, ramped-up hygiene practices, or establishing social distancing rules and protocols. Those are, of course, essential foundational elements. But there are many security-related components that need to be addressed in a comprehensive and strategic return-to-work plan, many of which will take time and resources to implement.
Cybersecurity, access control, monitoring employee movements and activities, and secure collaboration practices, are among many items that need to be integrated into a well-architected security plan. The good news is that your security provider can play an important role in helping develop and execute a fully integrated strategy—one that addresses the new (and in some cases, rapidly evolving) demands around health and safety compliance, risk mitigation and technology.
A return-to-work security plan should cover everything from basic policies around distancing rules and staffing requirements (some organizations may resort to staggered hours, for example, or a combined office/work-from-home model to minimize personal contact), to more complex technological initiatives around health monitoring and building access and control.
Analyze cybersecurity vulnerabilities and requirements in your action plan.
Conduct a security infrastructure audit
An integral part of the initial planning stages is a thorough review of infrastructure equipment. Planners need to examine what needs to be improved or updated. Are repairs required due to the protracted pandemic shutdown? This is an especially important checklist item for facilities that have been fully closed for a long period of time.
Organizations will also have to familiarize themselves and their employees with the plethora of new safety protocols that are being introduced, including those established by public health authorities and/or the building managers, or your company itself. With that, extensive retraining for both security personnel and other staff will be needed before doors re-open for business. This will need to be refreshed as new guidelines evolve in the months to come.
Bear in mind that security personnel, in particular, may be required to perform additional services, from temperature checks and entrance/exit screening, to more frequent patrolling and social distancing enforcement.
Analyze cybersecurity vulnerabilities and requirements
With the rapid transition to a work-from-home business model, organizations should also be making time to review their cybersecurity protocols. During the recent, rapid escalation in remote workers accessing cloud-based services from multiple devices, organizations had little time to assess their network security in an in-depth way. Now that you have a bit of breathing space, it’s time to develop or enhance your current digital security strategy as part of your return-to-work plan. This should include a rapid redeployment backup plan in the event of a future shutdown.
A safe and secure workplace will likely involve new technology investments. As you plan, consider the role security solutions can play in reducing touching of surfaces; tracking and tracing movements to quickly isolate and address potential outbreak situations; or responding to social distancing infractions (e.g., alerts when employees enter a restricted area).
There are a number of technology enablers that can be integrated into existing security systems to meet the demands of a post-lockdown work environment and ensure that only authorized employees or visitors can enter your premises. Examples of tools being implemented right now across some organizations include swipe pads on doors, touchless registration, “smart” barriers at entrances and exits, biometric scanners, remote locking systems and pressure sensors, and mobile two-factor authentication.
Additional video surveillance systems, along with thermal scanners and face recognition software can help identify suspected infections while tracking the contact and movements of anyone within range of a potentially infected person.
All of this needs to be supported by HR policies that clearly outline restricted areas, who has access, and policies around travel and sick leave—among others. Work with your HR team and potentially even a qualified labour and employment lawyer, to draft effective policies customized to the needs of your workplace and employee culture.
The key to action planning is planning early and often as the situation evolves.
Getting your workplace ready to reopen
Global real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield has developed a document entitled Recovery Readiness: a How-To Guide For Reopening Your Workplace. It’s a handy starting point that outlines six guiding principles on how businesses can ensure a safe and efficient transition to workplace readiness.
Here is a distilled version of the principles:
Prepare the Building—Implement cleaning plans, pre-return inspections, and HVAC and mechanicals checks
Prepare the Workforce—Create policies for deciding who returns, shift/schedule management and employee communications
Control Access—Enforce protocols for safety and health checks, building reception, shipping/receiving, elevators and visitor policies
Create a Social Distancing Plan—Follow guidelines for decreasing density, schedule management and office traffic patterns
Reduce Touch Points and Increase Cleaning—Implement open doors, clean-desk policy, food plans and regular cleaning of common areas
Communicate for Confidence—Recognize the fear employees may feel in returning to the workplace and work with them to alleviate their anxiety
Plan early and be flexible
There’s no question there will be a great deal of uncertainty as organizations plan their return-to-work strategies.
“It will happen in phases, it will be very complex and it will look different for every organization,” Bill Knightly, Cushman and Wakefield’s Chief Operating Officer of Global Occupier Services, noted in a recent webinar. “We know progress is unlikely to be linear … We know the rules of the game are likely to change as we’ve seen inconsistent messaging from health authorities and governments around the world.”
That being said, a safety and security planning professional can help alleviate the uncertainty and tailor a fully integrated security plan to meet the specific needs of an organization and its workforce. The key is planning early and often as the situation evolves.
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