GSN March 2016 Digital Edition

We’re All in This Together: Strategies for
an engaged public workforce / Part One
By Assistant Fire Chief
John Linstrom (Retired)
It is an unfortunate reality
that we must discuss workplace
security. In an age
where the threat of domestic
and foreign terrorism is
real, and “active shooters”
have become far too commonplace,
the world cannot ignore this facet of
emergency management and business
continuity.
When it comes to workplace security,
a vigilant workforce begins with
senior leadership. They must be the
ones to recognize the need to invest
in security, both with finances and
implementing security-minded policies
and procedures, and investing
in some essential tools, management
can create a culture of safety and se-
of the worksite, and foster a confident
and engaged workforce.
The fact remains that
the higher the security
profile of a company, the
less likely an attacker will
be to consider that site as
a target. When employees
understand that we are all
in this together, security
becomes a mindset, and workplace
safety is amplified. Here are some
simple strategies to move your workplace
toward a culture of security.
Implement Processes
ity.
Tagged entry or swipe cards for
to roam freely about a business or
campus. Expanding this to visitors,
by requiring everyone to have escorts
or badges, is another best practice.
Certainly, there have been instances
where authorized individuals have
used their issued badges and credentials
to gain access to engage in a
violent act, but the implementation
of these practices have undoubtedly
deterred non-employees and contractors
from perpetrating a shooting at
more hardened locations.
It is important to have response
processes in place from the mundane
to the serious. If employees can be
confident in the process, they can en-
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Encourage Vigilance and Reporting
Organizations that have a collective
awareness of hazards, threats, and
suspicious activities are better able
to identify the elements of concern
quickly. This information is processed
and collated to develop intelligence
that may assist authorities in pre-
to enable shared situational awareness
allows every team member to be
a sensor and all can contribute to a
clear picture of how secure the work
environment is at any given time.
Employees should be advised to
report individuals who have been
spotted taking pictures of security
gates, rear doors, and service areas,
as this may lead to disrupting a “dry
run” or rehearsal by a group planning
back” on an authorized person using
their swipe card to enter a secure door,
or drive-through gate, may be pursuing
an array of criminal intents. All
members of the organization should
be trained not only to observe, but
also to challenge anyone unescorted,
who is attempting to gain unauthorized
access with no visible visitors
badge. Vigilance is the keyword.
All team members have a shared
responsibility to patrol and observe