Workplace security plan for Walter Widget Company

Security at workplaces is not only the responsibility of the management, but all the parties in the premises. Therefore, it is important that everyone is involved one way or another in maintenance of security. In a company the size of Walter Widget, with 240 personnel, it can be challenging to maintain high security standards.

With the increasing nationwide crime against workplaces and businesses, the stakes in workplace security are high. Walter Widget must be concerned about theft of any kind including trade secrets, computer information and other resources. The firm needs to take necessary steps to prevent other security risks such as arson, vandalism and workplace violence.

Workplace crime affects production. According to Bressler (2007) businesses are prone to a wide variety of crimes and need to take action in prevention of criminal activities that influence profitability. Workplace crime affects the employees, because it results insecurity at work. Safety at work is one of the priorities in job satisfaction. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) make Walter Widget responsible for providing a safe workplace for the employees.

For Walter Widget to be a secure place there has to be established security policies and procedures designed to prevent crime within the premises as well as the surroundings. This paper outlines a proposed security plan for Walter Widget. It highlights personal security, securing information and company records, emergency response system, hiring and training practices that enhance workplace security as well as interior and exterior Property damage. The paper also gives recommendation on the necessary policies and procedures.

Overview

The premise in which Walter Widget operates is not secured. The building does not have an alarm system that protecting from burglary and forced entry. It is important for the building to be secured in order to protect employees as well as the information available in the computer networks. The building has four entry points that are all unsecured including the two staff entries, the main entry, loading dock and the cafeteria entry.

The neighborhood where the building is located is a low-income area. This complicates matters because despite the fact that no incidents have not been reported so far, does not mean that it will remain that way. It is evident that the neighborhood is quickly evolving downward due to deteriorating economic conditions. Crime for the areas is increasing gradually in all categories. The employees' parking lot is most vulnerable due to the prevailing conditions in the area and the high rates of autos and scrap metal thefts.

In addition, the firm has over 200 workers and this is a large number considering the fact that they are not protected against any eventuality. The firm needs to take measure such as educating the worker on patient security issues. Nonetheless, the firm has not adapted secure hiring and training methods consistent with the latest security requirement as defined by OSHA.

Physical Plant Intrusion

Walter Widget Company has the responsibility of keeping their employees, property and work environment safe from any physical intrusion such as burglary and vandalism. The company is to ensure unauthorized individuals are restricted from accessing the premises.

Despite the fact that protecting the employees' assets and the production process require an overall idea, designing the level of required security for the entry points may prove difficult.

Common ways of protecting the facilities include barricading, fencing and hiring guards. This may provide low protection and might not restrain some individuals from gaining access in to the building. Securing all the entry points as well as the parking lot would entail the installation of video surveillance, access control, perimeter intrusion detection, and command centers that work together to provide extensive protection for the company.

The installation of this integrated security feature will allow Walter Widget managers ability to provide top security to their workforce while concentrating on other tasks that assist in the safe running of the company. Consequently, the integrated security system will be strategically placed at the entry points. This will give a clear view of the incidents taking place within the premises to counter the cases of burglary and unwarranted access to the hallways, offices and bathrooms.

Using the video surveillance will enable the control room operators track incidences happening within the premises from the parking lot to the points of entry and the inside offices. The installation of central circuit television focusing on the parking lot, staff and public entry points will help curb cases of burglary, fraudulent activities and other malicious activities of both the staff and the clients. The digital video surveillance system provides much greater flexibility due to the ability to manage and filter large video information captured continuously.

The video surveillance is a round the clock surveillance. It increases the accuracy of the security surveillance, which help operators respond to abnormal security situations. Vital operations are recorded and their analysis help the company gauge the day's events.

Personal Security Measures

Walter widget manufacturing company requires personal security measures to reduce cases of workplace assault, personal property damages in cases of the normal operations of the firm. Personal security is necessary for the business as it includes staff trainings about security devices, professional services in handling the company's security and practical changes that help to provide a secure and safe workplace for employees.

Measures of personal security include hiring and training of honest and reliable individuals to secure control systems. The manufacturing corporation is liable to recognize and be responsible to give protection to workers, communities, and other stakeholders by putting in place several security-based standards and procedures (Idaho National Engineering and Enviromental Laboratory, 2004).

These personal measures include training the workers and company's security personnel on the installed security devices in cases of assault, fire outbreaks and other natural disasters. The other personal security measures to be incorporated by the company to prevent scenarios of vandalism, theft and property damages include the construction of barriers to deny clients access to the cash ledger and scanners to restrict unauthorized access to outsiders and other suspicious persons.

Record and Information security

Company should focus primarily on the protection of their electronic information assets against the risk of loss, misuse, disclosure and corruption. This will enable sharing of information in a manner that ensures the logical defense of that information.

The firm should create a position that deals with records and information security. The position will implement policy and procedures for handling information within the firm. The position will protect information from a wide range of threats and minimize damages in the event of a security breach.

While new technology and storage devices offers greater convenience way for data retrieval and transfer, they may also create greater risks of data leakage, access by unauthorized staff and other people should be prohibited. The company should have a well designed procedure for destroying the unwanted records containing information that may pose new challenges if carelessly exposed. The firm should securely destroy or permanently de-identify information that is no longer needed for the allowed purposes for which it may be used or make known to public or unauthorized persons. Staff involved in data entry, should consider retention practices, and subject to other pertinent record-keeping requirements such as those of the manufacturing plants.

On the other hand, the security of hardcopy information and records remains of extreme importance, and should not be an aspect of information security that is frequently neglected. Traditional records management tools such as vital records program and retention scheduling can facilitate the security of hardcopy records. A hardcopy information security program should be an integral part of an overall information security management system, thus ensuring a consistent approach to the protection of all information assets, regardless of format. It is therefore essential for the proper security measures to be put in place to ensure the security of records.

Emergency responses

Emergency planning and responses are needed in the building due to the lack of a genuine emergency and occupational safety and health standards within the firm. Widget Manufacturing Corporation is required to have a formal emergency plan. The company's management is required to support and be committed to the safety of all employees to ensure an effective emergency action plan is put in place (Occupational Safety and Health Administration, 2004).

The employees should evaluate and apprehend the plan periodically to be at par with the emergency procedures. This makes the workers aware of the available escape routes and procedures in cases of emergencies. The firm's management should incorporate special procedures to shut down plant operations to minimize the risk exposed to the workers. Immediately after the emergency, the management should account for all employees evacuated and the risks faced during the emergency.

Emergency training and drills should be carried every six months to gauge the level disaster preparedness among the staff. The company should distribute fire extinguishers within all the departments accessible to the staff and carry out trainings about the usage of the extinguishers in cases of fire outbreaks within the company. Routine maintenance of extinguishers and monthly inspections, hydrostatic testing, and documentation of emergency procedure is necessary to ensure the danger does not get the staff off guard.

Finally, in cases of emergencies, the company should be able to duplicate accounting records, legal documents and employee relatives are to be notified during the emergency. These measures will help reduce the casualties during emergencies such as fire and natural disasters.

Hiring

Pre-employment screening is advised as necessary hiring practices that can help the firm avoid costly errors. This the first step in guarding against security issues such as workplace violence, theft and other security concerns. This process involves application of psychometric tests, criminal background check as well as drug tests. This is done to examine the background and identity of the personnel being hired (Burke & Schramm, 2004 ).

Performing Background

Background check involves collaborating with the local law enforcement agency in scrutinizing applicant's documentation. In addition, other companies specialize in employment screening. The background check includes scrutiny of Social security number, driver's license. Other records that could be included are Driving records, Vehicle registration, Credit records, Criminal records, Education records and but not limited to Court records. It is important to search social networking websites for the applicant's profile.

Drug Tests

The company can perform drug testing with the premises with the availability of drug testing kits readily available and affordable. This is one way of getting important information about the applicant. Drug users are not protected under any law in the United States and can be terminated based on the drug test results (Mark, 2005). This test is not a medical examination, but a medical inquiry process. There is a close connection between drug use and insecurity issues. According to Deitch, Igor, & Ruiz (1999), there is significant connection between drugs and crime, scientific research show that drugs have a multiplying effect on crime. Therefore, it is imperative that drug test be mandatory in the hiring process for Walter widget

Training

Walter Widget's employees require further trainings before the installation of the new security system. This would prove appropriate for the employees to be aware of potential threats and be on the lookout for suspicious characters that may steal and vandalize property. Training should be carried at least annually whenever new employees are hired to give guidelines on the handling of the introduced security alarm systems and methods of operating them.

Additionally, all workers within the company should be made aware of the details of the emergency action plan, operation of personal alarm systems, and the types of potential emergencies during the training period. In addition, the presence of any flammable material within the plant and toxic chemicals must be laid bare to the employees to minimize the risk of accident occurrence when handing such materials.

Training should show the employees the position of fire extinguishers, the available emergency exists and the points where the security alarm systems are installed. Updated information of the company's policies related to the security procedures should be issued to the employees so they know the proper channels to follow in cases of duress and emergencies.

Recommendations

The installation of security surveillance system within Walter Widget Company is necessary to help reduce the threats of unwarranted access to the premises. The security system is recommended for the company to prevent property damages such as burglary, vandalism and loss of personal and business property. The organizations' management and senior staff members should be able to recognize and respond to the need to protect the workers from security risks. The security system should be able to address the potential threats faced by the company related to theft and unwarranted entry into the premises. The security system is highly recommended for Walter Widget Company due to the ability to track and record the daily activities of the staff and clients.