You may have heard the news of the terrifying incident at an apartment gym in Florida not long ago. The woman involved in this incident did an amazing job of fighting off her attacker and seeking assistance. While we only have the single point of view of the incident and certainly not all of the details, here are a few thoughts for consideration for safety and security in un-staffed and remote buildings. First, take a look at the surveillance footage of the terrifying incident and interview with the victim here >>
Here's our short list of things to consider for un-staffed areas of your facility:
- Occupant emergency lanyards - simply push an emergency button to request help - this is critical not only for security situations, but also for medical situations. With no one around, getting urgent medical response can be as vital as getting security assistance.
- Access control - an access control system provides a swipe-by-swipe log of who entered the facility. For increased security, use biometric devices at entrances to prevent the use of lost or stolen card credentials. Be sure to listen to the victim's opinion at on key fob use following this event at 4:10.
- Door locking policy - recommend to occupants that doors not be opened for other people without their own key or card credential. By requiring use of a credential at the door, there will be an access control log of who entered and when.
- Video surveillance - as we saw in this video surveillance footage, security cameras can provide a critical post-incident resource for investigation. Thanks to the video surveillance captured, the suspect in this incident was identified.
- Anti-piggybacking - new systems using LiDAR and other technologies can detect when two or more people enter a space with only one credential being presented. This solution detects when someone is followed without authorization or is allowed into a secure space by a valid credential holder.
- Voice communication - following an alert, video surveillance can be viewed by a properly equipped central monitoring station or security desk. Once an alarm is video verified, two-way audio can be activated, warning the suspect to immediately leave the facility or offer an ill or injured occupant assurance that EMS assistance is on the way in the event of a medical emergency alert. Plus, the two-way audio option allows the monitoring station to obtain medical history and symptoms of the patient to ensure that the appropriate level of medical care is dispatched.
Who can benefit:
- Residential gyms
- 24-hour fitness centers
- Shared workspaces
- Un-staffed storefronts
- ATM vestibules
- Stairwells
- Transit stations
- Single-worker and remote facilities
While we've only scratched the surface when it comes to outlining a few of the applicable safety and security solutions, we hope these bullet points have encouraged review of unstaffed areas that may exist at your facility. Visitors, customers, and employees working by themselves can be at risk for an unexpected medical emergency or physical threat.
The Theseus Professional Services team is here to assist with risk assessment, security solution design, and consultation. Contact us today for a no-obligation discussion at info@theseuspro.com