Work health safety - Security experts

Introduction

The security industry is the private sector’s attempt to engage in crime prevention. Security professionals may be armed or unarmed, work alone or in teams, occupy positions as employees or contractors, engage in work for domestic, commercial, industrial or government premises, and carry out their roles part time or full time, during the day or on night shift. The security industry may provide the presence of trained guards as their main role or augment protection with the installation of alarms, CCTV surveillance, additional security locks, shutters and bars on windows and doors, back to base communications, warning labels, installation of safes, and the implementation of other anti-theft measures such as staining dye, micro-dots, GPS tracking, hidden cameras, rotation of security codes, and consulting on security arrangements.

Security personnel should be qualified and licensed for their appropriate level of job responsibility, such as the handling of firearms. Applicants will need to have passed the required background checks.

The security industry may also provide escorts for armoured vans picking up and collecting cash, securities and valuables between banks, jewellers, art galleries, and other businesses with high-worth portable stock. In addition, security firms may provide escort for individuals (and their families) such as celebrities, politicians, ambassadors, and high net-worth persons who wish to be shielded from paparazzi, crime syndicates or kidnappers.

A third category of the security industry is crowd control at large events such as concerts, sporting fixtures, exhibitors conferences, and public holiday congregations. Related to crowd control is the patrolling of public transport and shopping malls.

A very visible aspect of the security industry is in airports where passengers and their luggage are scrutinised and screened before and after boarding for anti-terrorism, anti-contraband smuggling and quarantine reasons.

There are numerous workplace risks involved in this industry including:

• Biological hazards
  
• Chemical spills
  
• Electrical faults
  
• Explosives
  
• Injury to personnel from falls
  
• Accidental discharge of firearms on the job or in training
  
• Mental health effects resulting from rotating night shift
  
• Stress from interacting with persons causing a public nuisance or who are under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and having to frequently deal with suspicious packages or substances
  
• Violence or physical threats
  

At the bottom of this profile are brief details of a number of the experts that Expert Experts represents. Call our office to discuss your requirements and to obtain a recommendation that suits your needs and budget.

Expertise in Action

Experts in this field are essential to obtain expert opinion on work health and safety matters in the security industry. They may be required to:

• Investigate a security work environment for potential WHS risks
  
• Assess an employer’s business practices and procedures, and compare them with established industry standards and guidelines
  
• Assess a worker’s physical and psychological injuries related to workplace standards
  
• Investigate and audit security systems and standards
  

Sample Reports

For some fields of expertise we have some sample sections of de-identified reports. Please contact our office if you are interested in a sample.

Cost

The overall cost of expert opinion depends on the services required. Some of the key factors that affect the cost of advice include:

• The need for a view or inspection of a location
• The quantity of documentary material to be reviewed
• Whether there are reports of other experts to be reviewed and commented on in detail
• Whether there is a need for conferences with the expert either in person or by telephone/Skype

Relevant Articles Maintain workplace safety in the security industry

This document specifies the outcomes required to maintain Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies and procedures to ensure the safety of self and others in a security work environment.

Workers’ compensation claims 2007-2012: Security officers

The rate of serious claims for security officers was almost double the claim rate for serious claims for all workers.

Relevant Cases Divadeus Pty Ltd v Victorian WorkCover Authority [2014] VSC 578

This dispute was over whether the employer’s workers compensation insurance category was better suited to be classified as “labour hire” or “security services”.

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