Dear Members,
On one of the WA groups, Administrator of the forum has brought a topic for discussion. Today's topic is "What is security management and what are different terms and conditions of security management?"
I have given reply to this post. It is as below:
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Dear Mr Ajay Thaokar,
Security Management refers to the security of the following:
a) Security of the employees: - Security of the employees covers audit of the fire and safety hazard, security of the employees if the cab facility is provided and security while working at the workplace also. Let us forget, once in a while we come across with a news of sexual assault on women employees while going to the home whereas woman employee of prominent IT company was murdered by the security guard while working on Saturday. Therefore, the challenge to the security department of being approachable. If some employee feels unsafe, he/she must not hesitate to project his/her concerns to the security or at least HR Department.
b) Security of the material: - This is an age-old issue. Proper checks must be made for incoming and outgoing material. To take the material out of the company, there are two types of Gate Passes. One is returnable and another is non-returnable. Rules must be well defined as to who is authorised to sign the gate passes and what should be the flow.
c) Security of the perimeter: - Perimeter security covers the security of the fence and security of the lights adjoining the to the fence. At least once a week, security manager himself or someone on his behalf must check the fence, trees close to the fence and lights.
d) Security of the information: - Breach of sensitive information is a major cause of concern. However, considering the technical aspects of this security, a separate department needs to be raised. Security of the information done through access control, disabling the USB drives of the computers and above all obtaining “Non-disclosure Agreement” (NDA) from the employees who deal with the sensitive information.
Role of the HR Department: - Since this is an HR forum, it merits adding one exclusive paragraph on the role of HR Department in augmenting the security on the components mentioned above. First is selecting the right kind of persons. _How many persons are really interested to make career in security?_ Many times, it is said jokingly that those who do not get job anywhere, they end up in joining security. The neglect of the security department starts right at this stage.
The second challenge is payment to the security guards. When an agreement is made with the security agency, it is based on the payment of the minimum wages to the frontline security guard. This happens even at the very hi-fi MNCs as well. By paying minimum wages can we expect a high-quality work? Since the minimum wages are paid, security personnel do 12-hour shift so that they get overtime of four hours every day. The worst is still to come. Absenteeism is very high at that level. To offset the absence, owners of the security agency assign immediate shift of 12-hours but at the nearby company. Security guards out of temptation to get more money work sometimes for 24 hours even more than that. Since this practice is going on for the decades, today not many security agencies are there who are ready to provide security personnel for just 8-hour shift. How many HRs are ready to come forward to break this vicious cycle that remains to be seen!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
7884On one of the WA groups, Administrator of the forum has brought a topic for discussion. Today's topic is "What is security management and what are different terms and conditions of security management?"
I have given reply to this post. It is as below:
++++
Dear Mr Ajay Thaokar,
Security Management refers to the security of the following:
a) Security of the employees: - Security of the employees covers audit of the fire and safety hazard, security of the employees if the cab facility is provided and security while working at the workplace also. Let us forget, once in a while we come across with a news of sexual assault on women employees while going to the home whereas woman employee of prominent IT company was murdered by the security guard while working on Saturday. Therefore, the challenge to the security department of being approachable. If some employee feels unsafe, he/she must not hesitate to project his/her concerns to the security or at least HR Department.
b) Security of the material: - This is an age-old issue. Proper checks must be made for incoming and outgoing material. To take the material out of the company, there are two types of Gate Passes. One is returnable and another is non-returnable. Rules must be well defined as to who is authorised to sign the gate passes and what should be the flow.
c) Security of the perimeter: - Perimeter security covers the security of the fence and security of the lights adjoining the to the fence. At least once a week, security manager himself or someone on his behalf must check the fence, trees close to the fence and lights.
d) Security of the information: - Breach of sensitive information is a major cause of concern. However, considering the technical aspects of this security, a separate department needs to be raised. Security of the information done through access control, disabling the USB drives of the computers and above all obtaining “Non-disclosure Agreement” (NDA) from the employees who deal with the sensitive information.
Role of the HR Department: - Since this is an HR forum, it merits adding one exclusive paragraph on the role of HR Department in augmenting the security on the components mentioned above. First is selecting the right kind of persons. _How many persons are really interested to make career in security?_ Many times, it is said jokingly that those who do not get job anywhere, they end up in joining security. The neglect of the security department starts right at this stage.
The second challenge is payment to the security guards. When an agreement is made with the security agency, it is based on the payment of the minimum wages to the frontline security guard. This happens even at the very hi-fi MNCs as well. By paying minimum wages can we expect a high-quality work? Since the minimum wages are paid, security personnel do 12-hour shift so that they get overtime of four hours every day. The worst is still to come. Absenteeism is very high at that level. To offset the absence, owners of the security agency assign immediate shift of 12-hours but at the nearby company. Security guards out of temptation to get more money work sometimes for 24 hours even more than that. Since this practice is going on for the decades, today not many security agencies are there who are ready to provide security personnel for just 8-hour shift. How many HRs are ready to come forward to break this vicious cycle that remains to be seen!
Thanks,
Dinesh Divekar
From India, Bangalore
Shri Dinesh Divekar has as usual covered the points well and in an informative manner.
I would add :
People want to pay pennies and get literally black cat commando protection.
Guards are hardly well trained and have no idea of first aid or properly using fire extinguishers.
Classification of fires -A,B,C and which type of extinguisher to be used is not know to most guards.
Guards are poorly paid and so look around to do Overtime and earn extra buck.
HR can do certain things to avoid these pitfalls.
Select agencies with Proper police verification and those agencies which pay PF and ESI for the guards.
Keep a proper record of guards hired and check on their duty at regular intervals.
In Maharastra,there is a recognised Guard Board which gives guards in Mumbai,Pune and Thane.
Approach them for guards.
Ask the agency to rotate guards from time to time to avoid them developing relationship with staff and vendors etc.
HR should nominate one official to take security under his charge and be full responsible for the guards.
Placement of CCTVs at strategic points is really useful
Fire fighting implement, fire audit as per local State rules is vital.
Evacuation drills need to be conducted from time tot time so that staff are aware what to do when fire breaks out.similarly ensure guards are trained to assist in full during emergencies.Fire exits need to be kept clear of obstacles.Security sign boards need to be displayed with directions to exit and important numbers like Police,Fire,Nearest hospital etc.
If security is taken seriously,it will help when an event takes places.
From India, Pune
I would add :
People want to pay pennies and get literally black cat commando protection.
Guards are hardly well trained and have no idea of first aid or properly using fire extinguishers.
Classification of fires -A,B,C and which type of extinguisher to be used is not know to most guards.
Guards are poorly paid and so look around to do Overtime and earn extra buck.
HR can do certain things to avoid these pitfalls.
Select agencies with Proper police verification and those agencies which pay PF and ESI for the guards.
Keep a proper record of guards hired and check on their duty at regular intervals.
In Maharastra,there is a recognised Guard Board which gives guards in Mumbai,Pune and Thane.
Approach them for guards.
Ask the agency to rotate guards from time to time to avoid them developing relationship with staff and vendors etc.
HR should nominate one official to take security under his charge and be full responsible for the guards.
Placement of CCTVs at strategic points is really useful
Fire fighting implement, fire audit as per local State rules is vital.
Evacuation drills need to be conducted from time tot time so that staff are aware what to do when fire breaks out.similarly ensure guards are trained to assist in full during emergencies.Fire exits need to be kept clear of obstacles.Security sign boards need to be displayed with directions to exit and important numbers like Police,Fire,Nearest hospital etc.
If security is taken seriously,it will help when an event takes places.
From India, Pune
Dear Nathrao ji,
I just would like to draw your kind attention to following:
Security Guard Board minimum wage rate in Mumbai & Thane as on date for guard is Rs. 16,897/- per guard per month per eight hours duty. Total cost inclusive of levy is Rs. 22,360/- per guard per month per eight hours duty.
Even if you employ guard through private agency, the private agency is liable to pay wages to its guards as per board rates.
Now my question is, can any employer sustain this cost as mentioned above?
The answer is obviously - No.
Therefore, employers found following way outs to keep the cost at minimum.
1. They show on record the employed person not as a guard but unskilled labour- facility management and pay as per shops & establishment rate;
2. Installation of CCTV camera and keep minimum guards.
From India, Mumbai
I just would like to draw your kind attention to following:
Security Guard Board minimum wage rate in Mumbai & Thane as on date for guard is Rs. 16,897/- per guard per month per eight hours duty. Total cost inclusive of levy is Rs. 22,360/- per guard per month per eight hours duty.
Even if you employ guard through private agency, the private agency is liable to pay wages to its guards as per board rates.
Now my question is, can any employer sustain this cost as mentioned above?
The answer is obviously - No.
Therefore, employers found following way outs to keep the cost at minimum.
1. They show on record the employed person not as a guard but unskilled labour- facility management and pay as per shops & establishment rate;
2. Installation of CCTV camera and keep minimum guards.
From India, Mumbai
Security Management is one of the most neglected areas in many organisations. Apart from deploying minimum number of security guards there is precious little that is done in this regard. They lack basic education, skills, physical stamina, even knowledge of basic civilised behaviour, handling fire arms, intelligence gathering, operating fire fighting equipment or even local condition. 12 hour duty and no weekly off have become an accepted norm in the industry. Ex-service men have many advantages but they are very costly and hard to come. Many security agencies have direct or indirect involvement of ex-police/defence officials and they exploit the guards incessantly. The use of equipment like CCTV, smoke detection system, electronic identification (RF) of men & material, etc need to be thought of.
From India, Mumbai
From India, Mumbai
Private security services required by factories and establishments has become merely a business where agencies and employers both keep priority for cost cutting and profiteering loosing the very purpose of having security.Having said this,my 10+ years in this field says that unless the importance is not recognised,people in this sector will never be respected and paid properly.Inspite of having laws and regulations in place,neither the agencies,nor the employers want to contribute towards awarness,improvement and training be prioritized.Value in this business will come only people invoved in this business are valued.My career in this field has seen that exploitation from both parties kills the very purpose and value of this business.
Just to narrate,obe of my client said, these days security has become the fancy item,I being from military,just said,If you pay peanuts,you only will get fancy items only.
Managing security at any premises willl require manpower first,training and then monitoring.Problem is due to low payments,manpower retention is a big problem.hence impact on training and hence monotoring etc etc.Lets be honest in saying that if we really need security in true sense of the word,then we have to ensure we have to value people in this field and provide every resource including training so that we receive the purposeful services with dedicated manpower.
From India, Vadodara
Just to narrate,obe of my client said, these days security has become the fancy item,I being from military,just said,If you pay peanuts,you only will get fancy items only.
Managing security at any premises willl require manpower first,training and then monitoring.Problem is due to low payments,manpower retention is a big problem.hence impact on training and hence monotoring etc etc.Lets be honest in saying that if we really need security in true sense of the word,then we have to ensure we have to value people in this field and provide every resource including training so that we receive the purposeful services with dedicated manpower.
From India, Vadodara
Bijoy,
If you pay peanuts, you will get only monkeys.
True.
Proper training, monitoring is needed to have decent security.Most factories, companies want to cut down expenses and the blade falls on security.
Industries have really not understood the worth of good security and most security agencies have not understood the need to do proper selection, training of guards to see that they do their jobs well enough to get recognition of security as indispensable for every establishment.
From India, Pune
If you pay peanuts, you will get only monkeys.
True.
Proper training, monitoring is needed to have decent security.Most factories, companies want to cut down expenses and the blade falls on security.
Industries have really not understood the worth of good security and most security agencies have not understood the need to do proper selection, training of guards to see that they do their jobs well enough to get recognition of security as indispensable for every establishment.
From India, Pune
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