Personal Safety and Security at the Office

Personal Safety and Security at the Office

Introduction

Many people consider offices to be very secure places because there are guards and non-human security systems put in place to safe guard the staff and property of the organization. Yet staff have been attacked and even killed in the same workplaces that they feel so secure in.

Your personal safety and security in the work place mainly relates to your adherence to security instructions and your actions during times when there are few or no other people in the workplace. In large organizations, there are places that are isolated and they are perfect areas for criminals, both internal and external to the work place, to execute their ulterior missions. You may wonder how organizations could have internal criminals. Yes, it happens. The rapist, physical assaulter, petty thief etc in the workplace is a criminal.

Personal Safety and Security at the Office

The following guidelines will help in minimizing your becoming a victim of security incidents at the work place.

Always follow safety and security instructions at your work place. Familiarize yourself with the security and safety procedures at your work place. If there is a staff security manual, ensure that you read it thoroughly and understand the rationale for the procedures set out in the manual. Never assume that the security personnel will come to your assistance in case of an emergency. Your safety and security begins with you.
Always wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Shoes should have good surface grip as most workplaces have smooth surfaces such as those made of ceramic tiles
Learn how to use the security gadgets in the office such as shortwave radios, panic alarms and firefighting equipment.
Familiarize yourself with the building's emergency evacuation procedures in case of fire or bomb alerts. Know where the emergency exits are and the emergency assembly points .
Always inform the security guards in the workplace when you are in the office out of normal working hours alone.
If you are alone in the office, keep your office door locked.
Always have the emergency service numbers with you in a readily accessible place. Include the number of your organization's chief security officer.
Understand the characters of your fellow staff members.
Never get into a heated argument with a potentially violent staff member in a secluded place.

Beware of staff who have been dismissed from employment, some can turn violent through anger and depression. In that condition, staff have been known to harm and even kill fellow staff members or employers.
Avoid being in secluded places with staff especially those of the opposite sex or those of the same sex with homosexual tendencies. Darkrooms in scientific laboratories have yielded disturbing stories of staff harassing others.
If you are in a situation with another staff member and you feel uncomfortable, leave or make the other person leave. Promptly report any cases of harassment to the responsible office authorities. Never assume such cases will go away if you keep quiet. In most cases, they only get worse, torment you psychologically and erode your self esteem and sense of safety.
Avoid using the stair case unless it is the open type. Use the elevator instead. Stair cases are perfect criminal spots especially at night.
If you are the one in charge of the organization, ensure that you have put in place effective safety and security measures for the organization's staff and property.