Safety Reminders

United Way of Summit County recently experienced an overnight break-in at our office. A window was smashed out, and some offices were 'tossed,' but fortunately, no one was hurt and nothing was taken.

Our alarm system apparently did its job - the siren must have scared off the burglar, the police were summoned, and the security company called our building manager, Ed Glassner. Thanks Ed! He spent much of the night at the office while the broken window was boarded-up.

Here are some safety tips for you to keep in mind - at the office, on the road, or at home:

Visitors & General Security Measures

1. Know staff in other nearby businesses and be aware of their schedules.
2. Look at and greet all who enter your business.
3. Ensure all doors other than the main entrance are secured.
4. Make certain windows are not obscured so that passersby can see in.
5. Make sure there is a clear exit route from the service desk to the door.
6. Never assume that a stranger wandering in the building is a member of the staff. Always offer assistance.
7. Never leave anyone alone in the office. Check by telephone to see if someone can see them.
8. Never allow visitors to wander freely about the business. Have the person whom they want to see come to the front office area and escort the individual to the meeting area.
9. Have a visitor log book and policy on issuing visitor tags that limit access to certain areas and hours of the day.
10. If you encounter an individual while working late or alone, indicate to that person that you are not alone. Say something like, "My supervisor will be right with you and should be able to assist you."
11. Keep personal information private. Avoid discussing where you live, after-work or vacation plans in front of customers, new coworkers or anyone in general with whom you are not comfortable.
12. Install a spare phone in the storage room.
13.Install an alarm, (preferably both audible and monitored). Have alarm buttons in strategic spots; i.e. panic buttons at the reception area.
14. Install surveillance cameras that will monitor the front entrance, the reception area, and other areas that are accessible to the public.

Valuables and Personal Belongings

1. Never leave valuables, purses or wallets tucked behind counters or on desks. Take them with you.
2. If you are supplied with a locker, use it. And lock it. Keep the key or combination with you or in a secure place. If there are no lockers, join with other workers to make sure that a safe place is provided for your personal belongings.
3. Lock away personal letterhead and business cards to avoid use by unauthorized people.

Classified Information

1. Clear all desks of classified information every night and place everything in locked cabinets or desks. Ensure all classified information is shredded after its use.
2. Outgoing classified or restricted information should be enclosed and sealed with the addition of "Personal" or "To be opened by addressee only."
3, Store classified information on separate diskettes and label them "classified." These disks should be secured when not required.
4. Terminals should be locked after hours. Passwords should not be written on any user guide, manual, etc.
5. Access to classified information on the computer should be restricted and logged.
6. Don’t disclose confidential information to a stranger, no matter how important the person appears. Report such requests to your supervisors.

Equipment and Supplies

1. Mark equipment for easy identification in the event of theft or damage. Maintain an inventory of all marked items.
2. Issue OANs (Owner Applied Numbers) to business equipment or property.
3. Lock up audio/visual equipment when not in use.
4. Select an individual whose responsibility is supplies.
5. Secure spare and master keys in locked cabinets.

Access

1. Restrict office keys to those who need them. Maintain a record of keys including issue and return dates, name and signature of recipient and an outline of the consequences should an important key be missing.
2. Establish a rule that keys are not to be hidden or left unguarded on desks or cabinets and enforce that rule.
4. Have a procedure in place for collecting keys and identification from terminating employees.
5. Treat doors with coded locking systems as you would a key. Codes are released to appropriate individuals only. Have a procedure in place for the release of these codes.

Security Outside the Office and on Business Trips

1. Let your workplace know your schedule and where you are at any given time.
2. If it’s necessary to meet new contacts out of the workplace, choose a public place. Avoid having new contacts walk you to your car, home or hotel room.
3. When entering an elevator, stand next to the controls. If you feel uncomfortable about a person in the elevator, exit on the next floor or push all the buttons. Be careful not to push the stop or emergency button.
4. If it is necessary to take a business trip, make sure reservations are guaranteed at your hotel.
5. Purchase a portable alarm that you can place on the room door.
6. When checking into a hotel, hand over a business card to the reservations desk instead of speaking your name so a stranger will not be able to use your name.
7. Leave instructions not to give out your name or room number, and never enter a hotel room if you suspect someone is inside. If you are in a motel, try to obtain a room close to the front desk or manager’s office, or on the second level or above.

(tips courtesy of Crime Crushers)