SAFETY
AND SECURITY IN
THE WORKPLACE
Copyright
© 2001 Claire
Belilos
There is renewed awareness regarding Safety and Security, which have
taken precedence over all other subjects since the terrible
tragedies of September 11, 2001, in New York, Washington, D.C., and
Pennsylvania, which cost thousands of lives.
Measures
are being discussed to find the proper balance between ensuring
safety and security and preserving people's right to privacy and
civil liberties. I do not want to go political here but wish to
point out that the same discussions and debates which take place
nationally and internationally apply to the workplace. This dilemma
must be highlighted before embarking on the subjects of safety and
security.
Civil
Liberties and the Right to Privacy
-------------------------------------------------------
The
main point to consider here is: "whose"
rights are to be considered and take precedence over the other: The
rights of regular and law abiding people or the rights of criminals
and suspects? How can we ensure that those in power do not abuse
legislation and measures implemented to maintain a safe and secure
environment to protect the right "to living and
well-being" for all members of society? The U.S. Congress is
trying to find solutions.
These
very same points, when viewed within the context of the workplace,
bring up the subject of management's responsibility to ensure the
owner's assets, and provide a safe and secure environment for its
employees and its customers. "Customers" is used here in
its broadest sense, embracing all those who contact and visit the
company and those who use its services and products, including the
oft-forgotten suppliers, contractors and service providers of the
company. In Hospitality operations, this term also embraces outside
concessionaires, such as independent stores (and their customers)
operating on the premises of a Hotel or other Hospitality concern.
Safety
and Security
----------------------------
Safety
and Security, like Training and Development, are often left on the
back burner until a crisis occurs. By then, people fall victim to
crime, get robbed, get assaulted, become sick or even die. Although
we mention "safety and security" in one breath, and
despite the interrelationship between them, Safety and Security
represent two different subjects.
Security
Issues
----------------------
Security
encompasses areas such as security of the property itself, company
assets, employees' and customers' personal belongings and valuables,
life security, personal security, and job security (not covered here
because this latter relates to income security), among others.
Let
us take one "security example" related to employees'
personal belongings and valuables in a hotel environment:
In all workplaces management stipulates that it is not responsible
for valuables and employees personal belongings (their handbags,
items kept in the personal lockers, etc.). Yet management must take
all possible measures to prevent theft among employees and of
employee belongings through its hiring practices and through the
implementation of effective management, human resources and
operational policies, such as:
·
Background
checks of selected applicants
·
Policies
related to employees' entry to, and exit from, the workplace
·
Spot
checks of locker rooms and lockers
·
Effective
supervision and control during the work cycle
·
Policies
related to the discovery of criminal records and wrongdoing among,
and by, employees
·
Control
of people entering and exiting the workplace
With
regard to guest valuables, management informs guests that the hotel
is not responsible for valuables left in the room, advising them to
secure these in safety deposit boxes provided by the hotel. Besides
taking care of security issues related to the people they employee
(as outlined above), management must undertake some necessary
measures, among which:
·
Providing
"secure" (safety) deposit boxes and areas to keep
valuables
·
Policies
and practices to ensure the security of these boxes and areas
·
Management
and operational policies regarding the security of guest rooms
·
Management
and operational policies regarding the security of public areas
·
Security
policies and practices for the back-of-the-house areas
·
Employment
and training of security personnel
·
Policies
and practices to minimize the "presence" and
"patronage" of "shady characters" and criminals,
verification of registration and check-in personal data and
documentation submitted, and curtailing free movement of unknowns on
the premises, as well as direct, free flowing communication with
local, national and international security authorities)
·
Training
of staff in guest and valuable security
·
Effective
supervision and control procedures.
Safety
---------
When
we take the same hotel as example, it is management's duty to ensure
"safety" in several areas, such as:
·
The
structure itself
·
Installations
and fixtures (check electrical, plumbing, air-conditioning and other
installations)
·
Public
and work areas (e.g. slippery floors, hazardous obstacles in traffic
areas), safety of furniture, equipment, appliances, and utensils.
This
is followed by:
·
Health
safety (nontoxic cleaning material and detergents used)
·
Good
quality air (what we breathe, dependent upon the type of equipment,
installations and fixtures used, and regular repairs and
maintenance)
·
Food
safety (a whole world in itself including sanitation, food quality,
food spoilage, correct handling procedures, allowable and
recommended temperatures, etc.), and checking and control
procedures.
An
important "preventive measure" is eliminating the
possibility of communicating contagious diseases. Even if local
regulations do not require it, it is recommended to send food and
beverage handlers for regular medical checkup. Another preventive
measure is the formulation and implementation of policies and
procedures related to employee accidents which may present a threat
to food sanitation. Culinary staff who cut themselves accidentally
at work, as often happens while slicing food products, have to
immediately stop handling food, and report to their Executive Chef
and to the person in charge of First Aid in their company (Security
or Human Resources Department) for preliminary treatment and
handling. Healing and precautionary measures are taken before they
are allowed back at their job.
There
are also some basic "dress" requirements for staff
involved in food and beverage preparations: e.g. Chefs' hats (to
prevent hair and whatever hair contains to fall into the food),
discreet earrings (non-dangling) or no earrings for women, and long
hair neatly and securely tied in a bun at the back of the head.
Of
no lesser importance is the safety of work tools and work procedures
covering all areas, such as stable ladders, secure shelving, safety
shoes, well-fitting work garments, clearly written and complete
safety procedures and guidelines from management, safety training,
and safety installations and equipment, e.g. fire fighting units,
regular maintenance schedules for safety equipment and
installations, wider traffic areas (to prevent accidents), adequate
staffing, and last but not least, continuous effective training in
work procedures.
All
of this necessitates comprehensive planning, the creation of clear
policies and work procedures, organization, implementation, training
of supervisors and employees, supervision and control.
Safety
and Security Committee
---------------------------------------------
Effective
management of safety and security is made possible only by
appointing an overall Safety and Security Coordinator (preferably a
Department Head) who will form a Safety and Security Committee,
composed of a variety of Department Heads and Assistant Departments,
with himself/herself in the role of Safety and Security Committee
Secretary. Such centralization will enable effectiveness and
efficiency of the Committee, bringing up the subjects for discussion
and follow-up on implementation. Usually, the Chief Engineer and the
Security Manager of the organization are CO-Chairs of this
Committee.
The
Safety and Security Committee must conform and cooperate with
national, state and local regulations, submitting reports to the
authorities where required. Committee members establish policies,
procedures and training strategies, to cover all areas related to
safety and security, including "Emergency Procedures"
(e.g. accidents, fire control, assault, robbery, mad acts by
employees, visitors or guests, and all other possible cases which
would present an emergency). They delegate responsibilities to
different Department Heads, Departments, and specific employees.
They communicate to the organization at large and implement
widespread training, including drills and simulations.
Hotel
Managers usually have clearly written instructions to guests for
cases of emergency or fire, informing them of what action to take,
e.g. (a) Call the Operator or (b) Leave your room, take the nearest
staircase (emergency exit) and do not use elevators in case of fire.
They affix a clear map with instructions on the inside panel of
guest room doors. Bellmen, who help with check-in, explain and show
emergency exits to newly arrived guests.
The
Safety and Security Committee is the most important one in an
operation since well-being and lives are at stake. Meetings are held
at least once a month, while the appointed Subcommittees who take
"field action" meet oftener. Meetings regarding safety and
security are not intended for the exchange of idle banter. Their
duty is to ensure safety and security of the property and all the
people who are in the property. Each member comes with a ready-made
agenda for discussion and has to report on experiences and
observations. Minutes of the meeting should be clearly written and
distributed within two days at the utmost. The Safety and Security
Coordinator (aka Committee Secretary) follows up on decisions taken
at the meetings to ensure immediate action and ensures effective
training material, strategies and activities.
Legal
Liability
--------------------
The
owners and the managers of an operation are legally liable for any
accidents, illness and death caused by negligence with regard to
Safety and Security, vis-a-vis the courts and vis-a-vis the
company's insurers.
Policies
and procedures must be complete, with clearly written instructions.
Communications to both in-house personnel and to guests must also be
"wholesome", effective and clear. Training strategies and
activities must be clearly written, with scheduled planned and
historic records. This applies also to repairs and maintenance
schedules, drills, and Committee Meetings.
The above is not written based on theory but on actual successful
experience in organizing the best Safety and Security handling in
the service industry.
Thank you for your attention.
If you enjoyed this article and found value in it please go now to http://www.libertyunites.com
,
an official U.S. site with links to all the aid organizations
involved in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attack.
If you wish to upgrade your Safety and Security setup professionally
contact Claire Belilos at chic@easytraining.com
It can be done long-distance.
Copyright
© 2001 Claire Belilos
This
article is a condensed version of
Easytraining
Insights Digital
Newsletter Issue #14 of CHIC Hospitality Consulting Services. We
usually do NOT feature, for public viewing, articles contained in
Easytraining Insights Digital. However, considering the subject at
hand, and for the "common good", this condensed version
has been posted.
This article is not to be used for "commercial purposes"
(being used by outside trainers and other consultants for training
activities), republished, uploaded, broadcast or distributed in any
form or manner without written permission from its author.
Hospitality operators and other industry Managers are hereby
authorized to print out the article for distribution among their
staff and use it for their "in house" training conducted
internally by and for
their own staff. For other licensing, please contact Claire
Belilos at chic@easytraining.com.
Written
and published by:
Claire Belilos : chic@easytraining.com
Helping solve organizational problems
Home Page: http://www.easytraining.com
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