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emphasizes. “That initial impression is a
lasting one and our officers in every way
communicate the complete preparedness
and professionalism that exemplifies
our approach to safe and secure
operations.”
All security is specialized
Most specialized facilities do not require
the level of security maintained by
Skordinski and his team at Distrigas but
the approach can be adapted to almost
any type of facility. From a security
perspective, every facility is a specialized
facility in terms of what it needs for
comprehensive security. It requires all
of the usual planning and programs
but must be focused intently on those
aspects of the facility and its operations
that make it unique.
The process should begin with comprehensive
risk and vulnerability assessments
that will enable facility managers
to prioritize their risks. They should then
create a plan to address those risks.
That is the key to creating affordable security
plans that adequately provide the
level of security required. Traditionally,
many facility managers took a transactional
approach to security—largely ignoring
it until a problem arose and then
working to address that specific situation.
Security was viewed, at best, as a
necessary evil.
Today that approach simply doesn’t
work, particularly in the case of
specialized facilities. The huge increase
in government and industry-specific
regulation across many industries and
professions demands that organizations
plan for risks and develop the systems
needed to respond effectively.
In the case of Distrigas and other
companies in traditionally regulated
industries, Sept. 11 spawned a wave of
new regulatory requirements focused on
preventing terrorism. Other industries—
without that history of regulation—have
a unique opportunity today to create
their own regulations and present them
to government agencies to preclude
having ordinances imposed upon them.
Most organizations would prefer to
self-regulate—that requires effectively
addressing the issue of security.
Knowing what you don’t know
Unlike Distrigas, which has its own security
team overseeing security operations,
many companies rely on facility managers
The Distrigas LNG storage tanks shown here are protected by highly trained security officers,
sophisticated electric surveillance systems and comprehensive coordination with federal,
state and local authorities.
to perform that function in addition to
myriad of other duties. Managing the
process of creating and maintaining an
effective security plan doesn’t require
an advanced degree from Homeland
Security, just the awareness to seek
expert advice to guide the process.
With a completed risk and vulnerability
assessment in hand, facility managers
can determine their exposure and begin
the process of addressing the risks their
organization face. This includes detailed
emergency and crisis plans that specify
precise procedures for both averting
crises and dealing with them should
they occur.
All of that information rolls up into a detailed
security plan for the facility. Make
sure it includes a comprehensive scope
of work that assigns specific responsibilities
and establishes key performance
indicators and other metrics to measure
effectiveness. Quality security providers
welcome such accountability. Distrigas
performs its duties in accordance with
a performance-driven incentive plan
and has consistently met 100 percent of
its goal.
Four-pronged approach for
superior performance
The secret to achieving superior
performance levels is four-fold—a
stringent selection process, an active
training program, engaged management
and a highly competitive compensation
package for all onsite security personnel.
That is the essential checklist. Utilizing a
project-based approach, Garda provides
security officers for a wide range of
facilities and each presents unique
requirements for proper staffing. For
Distrigas it is highly competent, trained
individuals with military polish combined
with poise and technical literacy. At
a hospital, empathy and people-skills
are at the forefront. Manufacturing
environments require a mixture of those
skill sets. Simply put, a cookie-cutter
approach doesn’t work—that will quickly
become apparent in poor performance,
high-turnover and excessive cost.
The selection process
Assembling a high-quality security officer
force for any facility requires, first and
foremost, a rigorous selection process.
Check carefully into the selection
process the security provider uses. Garda
screens its officers extensively, including
a nine panel pre-employment drug test,
a seven year background-check of all
jurisdictions where the candidate has
lived, verification by Department of
Motor Vehicles, credit and I-9 records,
and validation of military and educational
history. Candidates must exhibit English
proficiency and pass a literacy test.
Finally, they are interviewed extensively
and evaluated for integrity, poise and
the ability to communicate effectively
and tactfully.
Training
The next aspect of security selection
is training. Many security firms sit
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