Do You Have an Operational Safety Net?

The days of a single-minded security officer who only reacts when called upon are long over. In today’s industrial and manufacturing environment, security’s role goes beyond the guardhouse. The new age security officer must have an active role in a company’s overall mission. 

As part of this proactive approach, security officers must be acclimated to an operation’s needs. Understanding a company’s mission, and how security support it, puts an invaluable price tag on the security officer. 

Industry-specific experience is a security program imperative. Information about a particular location, business, industry or operation, and the training to utilize that knowledge in a positive and meaningful way can be the difference between a smoothly ran operation and a costly mishap. 

Whether it’s touring a facility while looking for occupational hazards, reviewing paperwork for any discrepancies, or checking a shipping container before it leaves the facility, security creates a much needed layer of protection for an operation’s bottom line. Without highly trained and dedicated personnel who can spot issues, mistakes will occur, vital resources will be redirected and losses in time and money become inevitable. A keen sense of awareness, expertise and an overall commitment from a high performing security team makes a significant difference. 

This approach is brought to life in an example out of Philadelphia. A security officer at a logistics center used her training and knowledge, and strict attention to site procedures to prevent a $2 million mistake.  

  About the Author
  Ken Bukowski is the Vice President of Vertical Market Business Development for Allied Universal.