CSO’s at Factories have many security & safety challenges – that of theft, of employee safety, of safety of plant and of protecting R&D facility.
I will limit this article to securing your premises using active e-surveillance in such a way that you can considerably improve the efficiency of the security and the safety of plant & employees.
What is not monitored is not detected and what is not detected cannot be deterred.
Lets begin with 6 things you need to do immediately and why:
Step 1: Install CCTVs inside the plant taking care to eliminate any blind spots.
Cover all entrances and exits. Visible CCTV cameras not only deter theft but also provide forensic evidence of the theft. Don’t skim on CCTVs. It will defeat the very purpose of its use; it will put to waste the investments in CCTV. Have surveillance professional plot the cameras on your layout. They are experts. They will ensure that there are no blind spots that could be used for theft. The people who indulge in theft are also experts. Do remember this.
Step 2: Ensure that any tampering of CCTVs will be immediately alerted
Ensure that the CCTVs are always working and not tampered with. Take care of its Health. We have seen CCTVs being sprayed, angles changed, wires cut etc. You need to know immediately when this happens. Ensure that the DVR/NVR is secured from any tampering and is consistently recording. Technology is now available to immediately alert you on tampering.
Step 3: Install CCTVs around your premises to detect intrusion
This is for intrusion detection and deterrence measure. Nighttime is attractive for burglaries. Your plant can be burgled at night even with the presence or sometimes with the connivance of the guards. Guards are unreliable, inefficient and expensive. You know it. Hence adopt technology of ‘Perimeter Intrusion systems’ that will not only increase the efficiency of your security but will also save security costs. The incredibly effective Perimeter intrusion systems are all about reliable detection, Video verification, Lights and sound to create awe and fear. This is also used to secure open areas where scrap or parts are stored. It has a great RoI and will pay for itself.
Step 4: Install CCTVs at entrance of your critical facilities
This is for intrusion detection and deterrence measure. CCTVs with video analytics can detect human trespassing at nighttime. When detected, it will set off a siren to deter the crime. When monitored, a 2-way audio can be used. Escalation procedures are activated instantly. Deterrence is given. This is usually implemented at entrances of inflammable materials, R&D facility, stores etc that is vulnerable to theft or fire.
Step 5: Random e-Audit of the plant operations
Here, you follow on with your initiatives to show that you are also actively monitoring. This becomes a huge deterrent. Four times in a month, you perform an in-camera audit of the entitre days operations to spot any non-compliance of safety procedures, suspicious activities, loopholes and also to check compliance of the plants critical SoPs. You would be pleasantly surprised by whats going on that you didn’t know off.
Step 6: Schedule an in-camera virtual Guard Patrol at least twice a day.
This is where you take monitoring to the highest levels. This becomes the biggest deterrent. The In-camera Guard Patrol would indicate to employees the seriousness of monitoring by the management. When they know that are being actively watched every day, they would be on the best of behaviour and and would seriously following safety & operational SoPs every day. Imagine the difference it could make to your operations!
These simple 6 steps would go a long way help to make you even more efficient at your job.
None of your existing investments would go waste. All of them can be used.
