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In the wake of the Mall Shooting in Oregon followed by the school massacre in Newtown, Connecticut. There have been a plethora of experts who all say they have the solution to the problem. Everyone from the gun control lobby and people like Michael Moore, to the NRA has weighed in on the topic. The so called security experts all have a plethora of divergent solutions. Mental health experts and those who support court ordered commitment for those individuals who may be deemed not competent to live in a free society have joined the chorus.

The fact is there is no ONE solution. As I have stated in the past, "security is a situational discipline.” The efficacy of the security programs differs from school to school, from hospital to hospital and from mall to mall. The threat environments differ from one venue to the next. If the focal point of the security program moves solely to active shooter mitigation, there is the potential to do so at the expense of other security threats. Although it doesn’t grab national headlines, just look at the incidences of sexual predation in the school system across this country. Security programs must often address a variety of threats.

Effective security programs, including active shooter mitigation must result from a serious and competent assessment process. That assessment must consider and define the threat environment, as well as the effective application of contemporary physical security methodologies including effective access management, effective use of video surveillance, and importantly, human factor training of all affected parties. There also needs to be a defined partnership between the potentially affected enterprise and local law enforcement agencies. The manner by which these various strategies are implemented should be determined on a case by case basis. The affected enterprise should lean heavily on their in-house security professionals and risk management staff and/or on outside security expertise.

Mitigating decisions need driven for each affected enterprise in order to avoid falling victim to the laws of unintended consequences. Measures taken must take into consideration the environmental milieu. Such differences might include variances in law enforcement response capability, cultural considerations, and geography to name just a few. Solutions must also consider a wide range of options among physical security choices as well as the applications of CPTED options. The bottom-line is that there are no single right or wrong answers.  The only wrong answer is to do nothing.

Whether the affected enterprise is a hospital, school/university, shopping mall, hotel or and industrial site, the determinations as to effective remedies, must be determined locally. The threat environment must be locally deified and including the threat from within. Every business enterprise, as well as every educational institution, K through college, must develop an effective workplace violence prevention program before the next eruption.

Finally, if past is prologue, as security professionals, we must never stop learning. What works today, may not work tomorrow. Take the time to read retrospective studies such as the Governor’s Report on the Columbine shooting. The National Retail Federation has done good work in the area of Active Shooter mitigation. In this time, when there is so much access to information through the internet, there is not excuse to be uninformed.

Security Management Services International, Inc. has the ability, through our onsite security assessment services, to find practical mitigation strategies for a wide range of risks. The goal is to develop security programs that reasonably reduce risk to an acceptable level.  This means taking into consideration both the internal and external threat environment. It also means that one size does not fit all.

If you believe your organization needs a qualified Security Manager, but your budget cannot support another salary, consider this alternative. Security Management Services International, Inc. (SMSI Inc.) is offering security management support services as an exclusive and unique service primarily to those clients who have availed themselves of a SMSI Inc. Security Assessment. SMSI fully understands that many enterprises cannot cost justify the hiring of a fulltime, qualified, security manager. Nevertheless this fact does not mean that most business enterprises do not need the expertise of a qualified security manager. Most enterprises need security expertise throughout the course of the year, but albeit, not on a daily bases. The validity assumption is supported by our extensive security litigation experience. The potential for liability claims against an organization that does not have security management expertise managing their security programs is greater than those organizations that maintain full time security management presence.

Alternatively, we will also offer this service to clients who have not contracted for a SMSI Security Review and Assessment. For those clients who wish to participate in our Security Management Support Program (SMSP) for at least one year, Security Management Services International, Inc. will perform an initial assessment at a 20% discounted fee.

Effective security programs must have two pervasive missions: the protection of property and the protection of people. The degree that any enterprise has a responsibility to protect property or people from a liability perspective varies from one industry to another. For example, those companies that provide third party warehousing in support of supply chain operations, bare responsibility when product go missing. The same logic applies to freight companies such as rail and trucking operations Businesses the serve the public such as shopping malls, parking structures, hospitals, daycare centers, hotels and schools (public & private) are all expected to maintain dynamic security operations.

Anecdotally, the odds of being sued for an inadequate security program are much higher for schools and those business enterprises such as hospitals, malls and high-rise buildings when there is an absence of in-house security management. However it is understandable that many business enterprises cannot justify the $100k to $200K+ salary that a well-qualified in-house security manger would demand. Our SMSP offers an effective alternative. The SMSI Inc. Security Management Support Program will protect your interests when dealing with those who provide security products and service such as contract security services. Additionally, our SMSP will continually monitor those security vendors by ensuring they live up to their commitments.

Many enterprises may not need a security manager on a daily basis, but a security professional will be needed several times throughout the year. Remember security is a situational discipline, meaning one size does not fit all. Additionally, security is a proactive discipline aimed at deterrence and prevention. This means that security programs are not amenable to universal solutions. Security programs must be promulgated on the basis of need, and that need may not be static. This means that security programs must be nimble by constantly adjusting to emerging changes in the threat environment. It is especially important that security programs achieve a reasonable standard of care for environments such as schools and healthcare facilities because of vulnerability exposure of the clients being served, patients and children. Adverse security events in schools and medical facilities are likely to be played on the six o’clock news nationwide.

SMSI, through its Security Management Support Program (SMSP) program is able to fill this void. This program will be customized to meet the needs of each client we serve. In many cases, a comprehensive security assessment may be required prior to the provision of Security Management Support services. If a security assessment is deemed advisable, SMSI Inc. will perform these services at a preferred rate for those clients who commit to a SMSP Contract.

If your organization presently has and in-house security manager who is light on experience, the SMSP will support that manager until such time he/she can function independently.

Security Management Support Services may include, but are not limited to:

• Security vendor selection & oversight
• Security design and project management
• Security Incident tracking and trend analysis (Remote monitoring & analysis)
• Professional guidance in the selection and application of security systems
  • Access management systems
  • Video surveillance systems
  • Lighting
  • The application of CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)
    • Lighting
    • Natural barrier usage
    • Signage
    • Landscape application
    • Housekeeping & Maintenance
    • Graffiti eradication programs
• Visitor control
• Management of Aggressive Behavior (MOAB®) training.
• Hiring and background checking protocols
• Asset protection programs
  • Inventory control audits
• Student, patient, guest & employee safety programs
• Crimecast data & reports
  • UCR Reports
• Staff crime prevention strategies
• Police liaison services
  • Community relations/crime prevention officer involvement
• Employment Bullying Mitigation
• Sexual deviancy awareness
• Overnight Building security
  • Alarm system design and supervision
  • Security lighting
  • Locking systems
  • Surveillance system
• Neighborhood Watch
• Gang sensitivity awareness
  • Graffiti awareness
• Workplace Drug detection and prevention
• Staff security awareness training
• Year round security awareness program
• In-persons visits to be determined on a need basis by SMSI security professionals
• Unrestricted Remote Management Support
  • Problem solving
  • Crisis management support
• Neighborhood outreach

Terms & Conditions

1. Four visits per year included in annual contract (Extra visits on per diem basis)
2. Reimbursement for reasonable and documented expenses
3. Unlimited remote support
4. Minimum of one year contract
   1. Initial retainer
   2. Monthly billing of balance
   3. Flat rate billing for visits in excess of four

All SMSI Inc. personnel will be Board Certified Protection Professionals and/or will be former law enforcement veterans. These professionals may also be Spanish bilingual. Remember, the cost of reaction is always three to four times the cost of mitigation.

For information, contact Bill Nesbitt, CPP: bill@smsiinc.com or call 805-499-3800.

Prison officers in New Zealand are appalled with their Corrections Department for saying stab vests are available after another prison officer was attacked at Rimutaka Prison last week.  

More than fifty prison officers have now contacted the Corrections Association in New Zealand, demanding stab vests or some sort of body armour, understanding that prisoners are volatile and unpredictable.

"I strongly believe we must understand better, and remind ourselves that we cannot change the aggressive behaviour of some prisoners” Robert Kaiser, CEO of UK based PPSS Group comments.

"There is simply no doubt that a prisoner consuming drugs, illegal substances or self made alcohol can become hostile and violent within a split of a second, regardless of the prison officers excellent communication skill and calm personality”.

"The ideas to create make shift weapons, e.g. sharpened table and bed frame legs, shanks made out of plastic, sharpened wood or pieces of mirror, and the idea of melting razor blades into tooth brushes and turning pens and pencils into weapon have not been developed out of 5 minutes of simple boredom.  These ideas have been developed following hours and hours of malicious thought processes, and even the very best prison officer can one day be on the receiving end of such thought process”.

A recent publication of the American Correctional Officer once claimed that 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against prison officers.

According to official statistics obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform show that recorded assault incidents in prison in England and Wales have risen by 61 per cent between 2000 and 2009.

Based on this statistic prison officers at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, the largest child prison in Europe, are particularly affected with assaults on staff up by an astonishing 967 per cent.

We all will remember too well the outrageous attack on prison officers at the Frankland High Security Prison in March 2010, almost costing the lives of two prison officers, and have to accept the fact this is not a country specific problem, but rather a serious occupational hazard across all countries.

Robert Kaiser states: "The fact is that prison officers deal with some of the most dangerous, violent and unpredictable people in our society on a daily basis, and this is why I suggest they have the simple right to demand appropriate protection and the undivided attention and support from those charged with ensuring their welfare and personal safety”.

It is a rather interesting fact that a police officer who deals with dangerous criminal individuals for only a very few minutes every day is by law required to wear protective equipment… but the prison officer charged with supervising the same individual, potentially for a number of years, is not being issued with any type of protective clothing at all.

Robert Kaiser has been part of numerous discussions and consultancy meetings with prison and correctional facilities in several countries and fully understands all concerns: ”In every single of these meetings the ‘non-confrontational design’ question has always been the centre point of these sometimes very passionate discussions”.

"However, I always seem to come back to the same point, explaining that design and manufacturing capabilities have evolved so much over the past years. Concealable, thin and lightweight blunt trauma stab vests, extremely well suited for prison officers, are now available”.

It is without question, that covert stab vests and similar type of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries, and should this fact not be at least be worth starting an open minded discussion on the personal safety of prison officers?

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified covert bullet proof vests, stab proof vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is one of the world's strongest cut resistant fabrics and is now being used to manufacture cut resistant clothing for police, military, prisons and private security firms all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is globally respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for personal protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

I recently took the occasion to peruse some security assessments we did some 25 years ago for a number of varied and diverse clients. I was struck how far we have come, in so many ways, over that passage of time. I thought it might be useful to focus on four factors that have had a profound impact on how we all do our job, assessing the efficacy of our security programs today as compared to 25 years ago.

First, no matter what segment of the security industry you are in, the 9/11/01 attack on the World Trade center in New York in the wake of the attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building by Timothy McVeigh, April 19th, 1995 has impacted every aspect of the of our industry worldwide. It has redefined physical security, established new reasonable standards of care and spawned and further legitimized emerging disciplines such as CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). These events have sharpened the anticipatory aspects of our professional focus. Proactive mitigation is now more critical than ever.  We can no longer afford to wait for a breach to happen and then act.

Second, but not unrelated to the first, is the exponential advancement of technology. Technological advances are moving with wrap speed and those security professionals who do not keep pace will lose their professional edge. Just look at the changes in the use of video and systems integration. Concepts such as "virtual patrol” were nonexistent just a few years ago. The application of computer technology and electronic system has made security systems more responsive, and much more cost effective. In many cases, it has reduced the level of the manpower requirement, while at the same time making remaining security personnel much more effective.

Third, security professionals are now required to become intimately conversant with the views, values and goals of those who occupy the C-Suite. They must understand the persona of the corporations they serve (both for profit & not for profit). Their decisions and recommendations must be driven by ROI and should endeavor to have a five year shelf life. In many cases, security managers need much more business acumen today than was required 25 years ago. The ASIS International Security Management course in conjunction with the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania is one program that enables security managers to meet these kinds of objectives, and a program I wholeheartedly recommend.

Fourth, but not least, is the rise of security derived litigation, mostly in the United States. Security lawsuits are filed against businesses for what they do and for what they don’t do. When suits are filed for intentional torts, they may include assertion of false arrest, excessive use of force, false imprisonment and/or invasion of privacy. When businesses are sued for an omission, they often include the assertion of inadequate security. The majority of both of these categories of litigation, more likely than not, affect enterprises that affords public access (Hospitals, Shopping Malls, Apartment Complexes, HOAs, the Lodging Industry, Entertainment Venues, etc.). Although most of the aforementioned examples are largely personal injury cases, we are seeing number of similar lawsuits resulting from property losses against trucking companies, supply chain facilities, etc. More and more, security managers are finding they need to be conversant with litigation trends within their respective industries, and within their respective geographies.

The challenge is to stay current. We can never stop learning. When must never rest on past laurels. We must continually seek divergent sources of information. It is incumbent on each of us to determine the legitimacy of the information we acquire. Finally, we must continue to talk with one another.

William H. Nesbitt, CPP
President
Security Management Services International, Inc.

There are a number of security consultants listed on this Website. Most of the security consultants that are members of Security Source Online are competent, well experienced and maintain a high degree of integrity. They bring a wide range of expertise to the clients they serve whether on the factory floor, a hospital, shopping center or in the courtroom.

The value of Security Consultants is that they are able to bring an objective point of view to the clients they serve. In order for them to bring objectivity to the table, security consultants should be independent professionals without ties to the vendor side of the industry. For those of you outside the security consulting world, you may be surprised to know there is a good deal of friendship and mutual respect among these professionals. You will find that most have several years of multifaceted experience prior to hanging out their shingle. Most security consultants hold the CPP designation, along with other certifications.

What benefits are derived through the use of Security Consultants?

As mentioned, the first benefit is objectivity. Many of the organizations we work with have experienced security professionals running their security programs, yet they avail themselves. One may question why an experienced security manager would go outside and hire a consultant. In almost all cases, the reason given is they are seeking a fresh objective perspective. Because experienced security consultants have worked for a variety of diverse clientele, they have a wide range of experience to call upon. They understand many vertical industries and they understand the need to ensure that each security programs is responsive to the situational environment at hand. This objectivity is also useful in helping clients choosing security vendors. Not all vendors are created equally and some vendors who may be strong in Peoria may not be so strong in Sacramento.

Because of their breadth of experience, security consultants have a good understanding what works and what doesn’t work. Their perspective is also buttressed by the fact they frequently communicate with one-another. This knowledge helps ensure to that scarce resources produce will optimal ROI for the clients they serve. They understand that most security programs most meet the corporate goal of management. Security consultants understand the need to ensure that each security program fits within the framework of the organization as determined by the C-Suite.

Finally, our role as security consultants is a positive one. The best security consultants do not come into an organization with the preconceived notion to find fault and with the intent to rebuild the security program in their own image. Rather our role is to come into an organization to discover what is right and what is working, and then determine how to make it better. This concept is generally referred to as positive consulting as opposed to coming to a project with the predisposition to find fault.

As we said at the onset, there are numerous security consultants here at Security Source Online. Most security consultants are driven, to one degree or another, by a certain sense of altruism. If you doubt this, contact some of the consultants on this website. You will find them forthcoming and willing to have a discussion on a wide range of concerns you may have. You will also find that of you raise an issue outside the realm of their expertise; they will refer you to one or more of their colleagues.

Security consultants provide comprehensive security assessment, provide security management support, develop security system RFPs, provide security designs as well as project management support. Many security consultants are active in the forensic area as court qualified expert witnesses.

I hope this topic evokes some discussion form our members and other interested parties. I hope we can elicit differing points of views from other consultants and well as the pros and cons from those who have used security consultants. All security professionals strive for excellence and forums like this advance that cause.

Any security professional that has worked in the healthcare environment for the first time, especially hospitals, quickly realizes the uniqueness of this environment. The security challenges of providing adequate security to a hospital, whether large or small, whether urban or rural, are unlike any other environment. Because most patients are totally reliant on the hospital for their person safety and security, the reasonable standard of care for adequacy is very high. Add to that reality that most hospitals are, intentionally, very accessible faculties; the challenge becomes even more daunting. The question becomes: How do we maintain a warm and welcoming milieu and at the same time, provide adequate and sufficient security for patients, visitor and staff.

Security providers are now addressing these challenges head on. They are beginning to understand that hospitals have their own lingo and value systems. If the security provider does not thoroughly understand this nomenclature and value system, they generally will not get very far.


In response to this unique vertical security market, security providers are taking the time to understand the unique needs of the healthcare environment. For example, there are a number of consultants that are well informed as to the special security needs of hospitals. These consultants have taken the time and energy to join and participate in such organizations as IAHSS, ASHES, ACHE and ASHRM (If you don’t know these organizations, look them up.)

We are also seeing that major security companies, such as Securitas and G4S, developing security program offerings specifically for hospitals. These companies are bringing well experienced former hospital security executives into their security organizations to ensure they get it right. The critical challenge for contract security agencies, especially when working in the hospital environment, is to control turnover. The negative impact of turnover in the hospital environment is much greater that the same turnover in other commercial venues. In a hospital setting, security officers are required to make judgment calls several times a day. This means that they must have complete familiarity with the hospital they are assigned to. Turnover diminishes this ability.

Finally, we are also seeing technology companies emerging within the healthcare vertical. For example ADT, probably the one of the oldest security and fire protection companies in the world, has jumped into the healthcare vertical with both feet. They are able to integrate exiting disparate stems, and provide a variety of state of the art enhancements if needs dictate. This allows hospitals to enhance security efficiency while reducing reliance on additional FTEs and significantly reduce exposure to liability claims. One lawsuit avoided will buy a lot of security. Reliance on FTEs can be lessened through the application of virtual video tours and/or virtual video escorts.

The lessons learned in the hospital environment should be applied to many other industries. You will see that the companies mentioned here and others have devoted space on their respective website to the hospital vertical market.  Vertical niche market works!

by Robert Kaiser

"PPSS have now launched one of the lightest and thinnest NIJ Level IIIA+ bullet proof vests in order to offer those who protect and serve the best possible concealable protection” Robert Kaiser, their CEO states.

Made out of high performance Dyneema® SB51, this new bullet proof vest also offers additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm.

Waterproof and breathable Cordura® 180 and groundbreaking temperature controlling Outlast® space technology, are two further exceptional materials used for this great new body armour.

A specially developed 0.85mm trauma liner provides extremely effective blunt trauma protection.

With a weight of only 1.65kg, a thickness of just 6.5mm and protective area of 0.28sqm, this new outstanding bullet proof vest certainly means business.

"Every gram we can shave off the weight of body armour will improve the comfort of the wearer, and subsequently reduce the risk of human error due to fatigue and exhaustion”.

"Our ambitious goal was to develop one of the thinnest, lightest and most comfortable bullet proof vests, and it is now crystal clear that together with our manufacturing partners in Sweden we have successfully reached our objective”, says Robert Kaiser.

Available test results also confirm the company’s claim the body armour offer an exceptional high level of protection from hypodermic needles.

PPSS bullet proof vests are initially available as covert (model: CV1) and executive (model: EV1) version, in standard sizes ranging from S to XXXL.

A breath taking HD video of Robert Kaiser demonstrating the performance of this great new bullet proof vest can be viewed on the PPSS website.

Please contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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UK based PPSS Group is specialised in the development of body armour, bullet proof vests, stab vests and cut resistant clothing, aiming to protect police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations and government departments.  His genuine passion for personal safety and personal protection is widely respected.

by Robert Kaiser

"Of course” you might say, "we would not expect to hear anything else from someone who runs a company that is specialized in the development of body armor… does it not make a lot of commercial sense to him?”

But why don’t you just ignore this fact for a couple of minutes while you are reading my blog.  Just for once, accept the fact that some professionals actually genuinely care, have other people safety in mind and simply want to redirect people focus on security and safety related issues that really matters.

Over a number of years I have been operationally involved in the security industry, here in the UK and a number of other countries prior to that.  I retired just a few years ago in order to set up PPSS Group.  During these years I was unfortunate enough to witness fellow security professionals loosing their lives and others suffering from horrendous and long lasting injuries.  In fact it often was my responsibility to make that so very emotional and personal call to their next of kin, explaining why their loved one will not come home or requires long term care.

The interesting thing I have noticed is that not many security professionals complained or moaned after a violent incident.  They really seem to believe it is a part of their job and they have to get on with that.  You know what?  It actually is their job.  The moment you decide to become a security professional, police officer or prison officer you can not expect to be treated respectfully every time you go to work.  You cannot expect to stay unharmed every time you face potentially hostile and violent members of the public.  You cannot expect to be handled gently by intoxicated aggressors when a situation has escalated and turned into something of a disaster.

BUT… and this is a massive BUT… there are things a security professional must be able to expect, and that is the respect of their employer, their genuine care and their willingness to do everything in their power to enable him to do his job as safely as possible.

Managing Directors, Operations Director or Operations Managers either care about human beings, and above all of them the professionals who represent their interest or they do not.  It really is that simple.
Just over the past few months we had to read news, which included phrases such as "a security guard was hit with an iron bar during an armed robbery”, "a gang of robbers attacked a security guard front of terrified shoppers”,  "security guard assaulted during Walton robbery” and "a doorman needed surgery”.  We cannot look away any longer.  We have to accept responsibility, ensure their personal safety and at least look into the issue of body armour or stab vests as a real option.

How should we proceed?  Should we do as little as possible in reference to the personal safety of security professionals? Should we just do enough so we get away with things?  Or, should we go beyond what is expected and exceed our employee’s expectations and legal requirements?

Forget The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 and other countries equivalent laws, forget the legal consequences of directors not complying with basic health and safety regulations, but let us not forget RESPECT. We all complain and comment about the lack of respect in this and many other countries, but when it comes to respect, should we not start with the people close to us, those who work for us?

Some of the most successful business people, such as Sir Richard Branson, have long emphasized the importance of looking after your employees and making them feel respected and appreciated.

Asking security professionals to operate without body armor, stab vests or other type of personal protection, increases their risk of workplace violence related injuries, it increases their risk of getting injured, and in my professional opinion it is in breach of health and safety regulations, but above all it is NOT an expression of respect.

If we genuinely care we must make sure these guys are as safe as they can be. It is a bit like a seat belt in your car.  You might well be happy not to wear a seat belt, and you know what?  This is your decision, it is your problem and it is your risk you are willing to take. To make such a decision over your employees head, to refuse issuing them with body armor or stab vests or forcing them to work with a ‘if you do not like it do not work for me’ attitude is wrong… and one of the very simple reasons why society is the way it is.  For me, regardless of any commercial interest I might be accused of here, it shows a clear lack of respect!

Should you have any questions, then feel free to contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified bullet proof vests, stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is the world’s strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is widely respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

The challenges of maintaining a secure hospital are unlike almost any other industry. Most hospitals have relatively easy access because they want to maintain a welcoming environment. At the same time hospitals are responsible for maintaining a safe environment for staff and visitors, and most of all a safe environment for patients. Maintaining sufficient security while at the same time providing a welcoming environment is one of the reasons why hospital security programs require a very unique expertise.

It is not infrequent that in the wake of a specific security breach, such a violent episode in the emergency department or an assault in the parking structure, that a hospital will seek the services of a security consultant in an attempt to mitigate future occurrences. They (hospitals) often request a security review of the affected department, such as the emergency department. However, in most cases the limited review of only the affected department may result in the treatment of merely a symptom of a more overreaching problem.

In most cases those hospitals that identify single issue security breakdowns may be doing so at the expense of ignoring more far more endemic security weaknesses. This means that the symptoms you are aware of very well may be indicative of greater endemic problems. Each department in every hospital organization is inextricably tied in some way, to every other department.

The solution: Treat those security incidents that you know about as symptomatic of a larger problem. This means in may be time for a stem to stern security assessment. The assessment process should obviously include review of all physical security systems and protocols in addition to review of the special security needs of departments such as L&D, Pediatrics, ER, Pharmacy, Behavioral Health, Central Supply and the Business Office. The assessment process should include a review of HR hiring and screening processes. Asst protection protocols should also be
reviewed. Security Awareness programs should be assessed for effectiveness as well as assuring they are contemporary. The training of security staff and employees, as relates to security issues should be reviewed.

The point we are trying to make is that when security problems raise their head in a particular department or area within the hospital, assume they are symptomatic of a larger problems until proven otherwise. Identified security problems can be an opportunity to get better. Remember security is an anticipatory discipline with mitigation as the primary objective.

Recently, I have had several opportunities to gain business from potential customers that I was not able to close before. Their projects were shelved due to unforeseen budget demands and priority shifts away from security. Sometimes your efforts will appear to go nowhere.

All efforts leads to something though, right? even if you don’t get that job opportunity the first time, you will learn something at least. I should hope so. Business isn’t always about knowing exactly what to do every time. Much of the time, it is about learning what NOT to do. Avoiding huge pitfalls will allow for steady learning and growth. In those efforts that appear worthless, we should be viewing the opportunity to gain knowledge. What sort of knowledge can we learn in the physical security business? Plenty. Lets go over a few examples.

Communication. I have written about this before. The importance of good communication with your potential customer cannot be over-rated. There are plenty of pitfalls to avoid and you can learn many of these by really talking and just as importantly, listening to your customer. One of the big things you should try to establish early on is the customers budgetary range.

It is common for small business customers and non-chain customers to react in two ways. One way is to feel like you will try to soak up that budget by charging the most and providing the cheapest possible equipment and service. The other way is to give a knee-jerk reaction number that is somewhat lower than what they are really willing to pay. Both of these reactions can occur within minutes of each other and either one can deal a hard blow to your sale.

Why? Why would they do that?

Two main reasons come to mind…one- it’s their nature, and two- they don’t trust you enough to give you the truth. The first scenario is a tough one to get past but it is far less common than the second. The second scenario is actually an indicator for you. This is a flag that says loud and clear,” You haven’t spent enough time getting to know me, the customer.”

It is important to recognize this scenario so you can correct for it on that visit and prevent it in future visits. Without a good level of trust, you might never learn the true nature of their project budget. You should take care to introduce your company and yourself in a fashion that lets the customer be at ease. They should see you as a partner in solving their problems, not just another security vendor. Try to get on a familiar ground with the customer without being that dreaded, disliked "sales guy”. After all, you are hoping for repeat business aren’t you… or haven’t you been reading my articles?

OK. On to that budget. Your expenses start on your drive over to the customer site. You need to included all of your efforts in the cost of doing business or your ROI numbers will always be incorrect. I mention this because nobody wants to throw good investment efforts at a dry well. There is such a thing as a bad job. This type of job is the killer of small businesses. It is the type of job taken out of desperation or implied promise of bona-fide paying work in the future. It can typically show up in the form of a simple job, but as the job progresses, the job scope changes and not in the ways that pay but in the ways that don’t. Extra labor for out-of-scope wiring requests or forgotten equipment or job results that are unsatisfactory to the customer. Communication is the name of this game. The budget is the tool that keeps all the ducks in a row. It keeps you from expanding the job too much, and it allows you to make accurate hardware and labor goals for an expected, stated, outcome.

Nobody wants to arrive at a customer site and go through the entire site survey. Learning, observing, talking about capabilities and solutions for an hour or more; then come up with an estimate that might take 1-3 hours to create in software and logistics; only to have the customer get sticker shock and say "Twenty two thousand? I was thinking more like five grand!”

Now you’re really in a jam. They think you might be out to milk them, and you are already 2-4 hours in the hole with your visit and estimate etc. Now you have to decide if they will even entertain a lesser number from you and whats worse, you have an even smaller profit portion from which to recoup your existing time investment.

It could all have been avoided in the beginning. Establish a good rapport with the customer. Get them to understand that you want to help them. Inquire about their budget early. If they balk at the request, let them know that you need a money limit to stay under or you will likely just waste their time, and you don’t want that. If they are an inexperienced buyer, you may need to coax them along. It’s OK to do that. Remember that you are providing a genuine service here, and part of that service is education. Let them know that this is standard procedure for this type of B2B interaction. Some people are uncomfortable with talking about larger amounts of money. No problem. We all start someplace. Take the opportunity to make them feel at ease, and then move in again and get that number. You need it.

The larger or more experienced customers understand all this. They realize it is just part of the language or dance or whatever term you want to use to denote the early portion of an estimate scenario.

Budgets come and budgets go. One minute you are happy to spend 6 hours creating the perfect system installation, and then you hear that bad news…”Our snow removal budget was completely used up and we have to use the security budget for something else now, so…maybe next year.” It happens. But, if you have played it right, they call you up in the spring and say "Hey, we have our new budget and we are ready to go. Can you give us an updated version of the estimate?”

That’s how you know you have done it right! They call you and tell you stuff just like that.

At InSightCCTV, we work smartly to make sure our customers get the best possible outcome. Thank you for reading!

Dave Johansen of InSightCCTV www.insightcctv.com

"PPSS have now launched a highly slash resistant Duty Jacket in order to help protect our security professional” Robert Kaiser, their CEO states.                                                                             

"Security professionals who deal with potentially hostile members of the public certainly require additional protection from edged weapons”.

This new slash resistant duty jacket offers BS EN 388:2003 Blade Cut Resistance Level 5 – the highest possible, by using Cut-Tex® PRO.

Cut-Tex® PRO is one of the world’s strongest cut resistant fabrics.

Featuring two large front pockets plus a good size chest pocket this new duty jacket offers plenty of storage space.

Highly durable Nylon rip stop fabric, used as outer material, ensures this great new protective garment can cope with most difficult tasks our security professional face on a day to day basis.

"My favourite feature is a type of long slit we have added right next to the two large size pockets, which allow easy direct access to the duty belt or firearm for Close Protection Officers overseas,” says Robert Kaiser.

PPSS slash resistant Duty Jackets are water and wind resistant and extremely robust.

This new model is available in black as standard colour and in a number of sizes, ranging from XS to XXXL.

Should you have any questions in reference to high visibility stab vests, then feel free to contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified bullet proof vests, stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is the world’s strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is widely respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

"PPSS have now launched a series of high visibility stab vests, clearly demonstrating that body armour do not have to look confrontational, aggressive or authoritative ” Robert Kaiser, their CEO states.
                                                                          
"Frontline employees dealing with the public should be doing their utmost to express themselves as peaceful ambassadors within their line of work, and our high visibility stab vests allow them do express themselves peacefully and appear approachable” Robert continues.

Professionals dealing with potentially hostile members of the public should be able to use their positive personality, diplomacy and negotiation skills to defuse a situation, and certain types of overt body armour can certainly send the wrong signal and make professionals appear like ‘Rambo’ or ‘Robocop’.

Covert body armour or stab vests on the other hand can at times be very impractical as not all security professionals are required to wear body armour all the time whilst on duty.

Many security professionals simply prefer the idea of over body armour as they can easily be taken off when driving or reporting back in the office.  They appreciate the occasional opportunity to unzip the body armour and let the body breath for a few minutes especially during the hot summer months.

But as just stated, the problem with some over body armour however is that they can of course look quite aggressive, hence many security and health and safety managers have been looking for ‘peaceful’ or none-aggressive looking overt body armour.

"Perception is without a doubt one of the most important factors within personal safety and personal protective equipment.  This is why we believe our new high visibility stab vests series offers a great solution” Robert says.

PPSS high visibility stab vests offer UK Home Office certified KR1 stab protection and confirm with the European EN 471:2003 high visibility standard.

They are available in ‘body armour’, ‘jacket’ and ‘vest’ styles and come in a number of sizes, ranging from XS to XXXL.

Bespoke sizes are also available upon special request.

Should you have any questions in reference to high visibility stab vests, then feel free to contact PPSS Group directly on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com .

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of certified bullet proof vests, stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO.  This groundbreaking fabric is the world’s strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is widely respected expert in body armour and known for his passion for protection and personal safety.  He is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services.  He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations, unions and government departments.

When one thinks about hospital security programs, ID badges, security officers and cameras come to mind. Yet, based on our experiences, physical security breaches are seldom the proximate cause of criminal victimization. Physical security remedies, such as lighting, access control and the application of CPTED principals all important and should not be ignored, but absent staff involvement, these methods can be rendered impotent. Whether intended or not, most hospitals are not difficult to breech.
 
Hospitals are loaded with numerous points of ingress and egress and it is not difficult to blend in. Even access control doors are not difficult to penetrate by coat-tailing a legitimate card holder. With the exception of most pharmacies, it is not difficult to penetrate the back of the house.

Hospitals are loaded with hundreds of desirable consumables are their clients (patients) are fully dependent on the hospital for their safety and security.

A major part of the solution: A fully engaged staff. Many hospitals, not all, tell employees what to do, but they often do not tell them how and when to do it. For example most hospital’s new employee orientation programs encourage employees to watch out for suspicious people, especially during other than normal business hours. The assumption is that everyone knows what is meant by "suspicious people.” Guess what? That assumption does not always hold water.

During a recent training session several clinical employees were asked if they were asked to lookout for suspicious people wandering about the hospital, and everyone raised their hand in the affirmative. When the instructor pointed to Mary or Sally and said, "Mary why don’t you tell all of us in this room, what constitutes suspicious behavior? What does it look like?” Mary became flummoxed and was unable to produce an answer.  It took the instructor all of about 15 minutes to fill that void after which everyone one knew what suspicious looked like.
 
Employees must not only be taught how to recognize suspicious behavior, but they must be taught what to do and how to do. A little role playing never hurts. It is surprising how many security breaches, including those that result in significant litigation, are the result on inattentiveness. The deterrent impact of any hospital security program can be enhanced several times over by fully engaged employees. Many security threats, such as those mentioned, can be effectively mitigated with simple and low cost solutions. After all, what is more effective, a 200 camera video surveillance system or a 1000 sets of eye and ear and the ability to act?

If you doubt this assertion, contact some of the security professionals listed on this website.

There is an evolving trend toward a middle ground between having no Security Manager and employing a fulltime Security Manager/Director. Every business or organization either cannot justify a fulltime security management position or they believe they cannot afford the cost of employing a fully qualified Security Manager. Some companies that use contract security services will pay extra for and onsite security supervisor as part of the total package being provided by the contracting guard company. To the extent this site manager is qualified to take on the role beyond that of supervising contract security officers is questionable and may present a conflict of interest. Yet, in the real world, when one inquiries "who is in charge of security?” the onsite supervisor is often named.
 
Stepping into this void is a number of fully qualified and certified security professionals who assume the role of Security Management Support. These professionals operate under contract to oversee and monitor all aspects of the security operations including oversight of guard force operations, physical security vendors and investigative services. They often write and oversee a wide range of RFPs and participate in the vendor selection process. The expertise provided by these professionals is at least equal to that of a fulltime security manager minus the expense of payroll, taxes and fringe benefits. Every enterprise does not require a fulltime security manager, but most enterprises require some security management expertise.
 
What is your opinion on this matter? Does this approach have merit? What are the pitfalls? What are the advantages? Are you familiar with this alternative approach?

"Too many paramedics and other frontline professionals are still opposed to wearing stab vests or other forms of body protection, due to simple misperception", says Robert Kaiser, CEO of UK based PPSS Group.

Many internal surveys, conducted by the UK's Ambulance Trusts concluded that stab vests are not wanted by their frontline staff.

Paramedics Body ArmourRobert Kaiser strongly believes this is simply due to 'technical and design misperceptions' of body armour.

"We have conducted a six months survey, questioning a number of paramedics within the UK how they feel about stab vests, and the result is absolutely clear".

"Of course, there will be people doubting the efficiency of our survey. Nevertheless, we strongly believe this survey shows once again, professionals require user friendly protection".

Based on the PPSS survey, 72.8% of those completing the survey stated "stab vests, which offer blunt trauma protection, should be issued to ALL Paramedics".

87.7% also confirmed that "paramedics should be issued with their OWN INDIVIDUAL stab vest".

55.6% mentioned they were not aware of the latest available advances in covert stab vests, e.g. thickness, weight, concealability and wearability.

"Many of these professionals still believe stab vests are 6kg heavy, one inch thick, bulky, uncomfortable, restrictive and confrontational looking. But this is now far away from the truth".

Mr Kaiser is convinced that the majority of violent attacks on emergency services staff in the UK are not edged weapon, knife or needle related. He believes that the majority of assaults are 'blunt trauma related incidents'.

"Based on many years of frontline experience and our extensive research we know that the risk of knife or needle attacks exist, but this risk is nowhere near as high as the risk of being pushed, punched or kicked whilst on duty".

"This is why we have developed concealable, ultra thin and 2.1kg light body armour that protects the wearer from any type of knife and needle, but more importantly also from punches, kicks and any type of blows".

Mr Kaiser explains: "I think it is time to ask paramedics, prison officers and other emergency services personnel the right questions and educate them in a caring and supportive manner."

"Let us show them how much body armour have advanced. We fully understand the operational responsibilities and risks of ambulance personnel and our body armour reflect this understanding".

On Thursday 10th April, PPSS Group delivered a very informative public presentation, demonstrating the astonishing capabilities of their recently developed body armour, stab vests and slash resistant clothing at the London Islington Hilton Hotel. The event was attended by numerous organisations and professionals.

Aiming to clarify the common misperceptions of body armour, Mr Kaiser himself demonstrated the effectiveness and capabilities of the equipment. The two LIVE demonstrations, which saw the audience gasping for air, certainly had a huge impact and impressed all visitors.

Mr Kaiser strongly recommends to all NHS Ambulance Trusts, Healthcare Trusts and any organisations which employ frontline professionals to re-look at the potential requirements for user friendly and lightweight body armour..

Should you have any questions in reference to body armour, stab vests or slash resistant clothing, then please feel free to contact PPSS Group on +44 (0) 845 5193 95 email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

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PPSS Group is a UK based manufacturer of UK Home Office certified stab vests and the company behind Cut-Tex® PRO. This groundbreaking fabric is the world's strongest cut resistant fabric and is now used to manufacture slash resistant clothing for police, military, emergency services, prisons and private security professionals all over the world.

Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS Group is frequently invited to speak in front of large audiences about the latest body armour developments within homeland security and domestic frontline services. He is acting as body armour consultant for a number of organisations, associations and government departments. He is also organiser of the annual LONE WORKER SAFETY Conference & Exhibition, taking place in London in May every year.

Some organizations require a consultant, a security system integrator and/or a video surveillance vendor in addition to many other service providers. Finding the proper assemblage of security providers is a daunting task. It is even more difficult if multiple site locations are involved. This task would be infinitely simplified if these customers were able to turn to a single resource that would be capable of meeting their varied needs. SSO provides that resource.

Security Source Online (SSO) is stepping into this void by providing a single source for a diverse grouping of security professionals, products and services. Security Source Online is the brain-child of William Nesbitt, CPP, a well seasoned Board Certified Security Professional. In addition to Bill, the website’s advisory board members are all Certified Protection Professionals. These individuals are profiled on this website.

This website is also unique in that it offers one year memberships to security providers for a single annual fee. A distinctive aspect of SSO is that the website is also a blog where members only can post informative articles. However, any visitor to the website has the ability to make commentary to any posted blog thereby making SSO interactive.

Security Source Online provides those with security needs direct unfettered access to their vendor of choice. Additionally, SSO members are encouraged to form collaborative relationships with fellow members in order to best serve the collective needs of their clients and to provide clients with a single source for a plethora of security products and services. Over time this website will become the gold standard as a reliable resource for security products and services. Interested parties will be able to find everything from access control system providers and manufacturers to forensic security expert witnesses. This website will become a resource for finding security guard companies, system integrators. IT security specialists as well as forensic security experts.

Security Source is a unique website that is intended to provide a resource for those needing solve security challenges. This site is rapidly becoming an international resource for a wide range of diverse security providers. As our membership grows, visitors to Security Source will be able to have direct access to security integrators, security consultants, forensic security experts, security systems companies and contract security providers. Visitors are able to have direct unfettered access to any of our members. Our members are represented by organizations that have regional, national as well as international capability.

A unique aspect of the Security Source Website is that it is also a Security Topic Blog. SSO members have the exclusive rights to post informative blogs. However, any visitor to the SSO has the ability to comment to any blog. The blog portion of the website is to encourage an open dialogue between those seeking security solutions and our diverse group of security pros. We encourage visitors to SSO to suggest topics for our members to address through the SSO blogosphere. If any visitor to our website is unable to find the expertise they are looking, contact Bill Nesbitt, CPP the Director of Security Source Online (bill@securitysourceonline.com). We will endeavor to refer you to an organization that can meet your needs.

Many of our members have national as well as international name recognition within the security industry. If a visitor is unable to find the security provider they are looking for, there is a very good chance that one of our members can put you in touch with the provider who will fill the bill. You will also find the many of our members are willing to work collaboratively when needs dictate. This is especially true of those security professionals who are members of the Security Source Online Roundtable.

Security Source is the place to find workplace violence prevention experts. SSO also has a growing number of experts who understand mitigation strategies for the protection of information. Other professional are experts at security program assessment and development. Our technical experts are able to help clients maximize the return on investment with limited security budgets. These professional are able to provide security design support and help their client develop RFPs.

If you are a user of security equipment such as access management systems, video surveillance systems or contract security guards, Security Source Members are here to help you meet those needs. If you are unable to find the service provider you need, please contact us and we will refer to the appropriate vendors. If the service provider is not yet represented on our website, try contacting one of our security consultant members for suggestions.

If your business provides security services or security equipment, consider joining the Security Source family of professionals.

Finally, if you wish to see articles posted that deal with specific security challenges, contact us and we will alert the most qualified SSO Member to contribute an article. We also invite you to vote our current poll questions. Come back and visit us again as we continue to grow.

You may also contact our webmaster at: brandi@securitysourceonline.com

Security Source Online (SSO) is a marketing forum for our members and a source of usable information to those seeking security solutions. The blog entries and resources listed on this site are continually updated. For those seeking information, contact us if you are unable to find the answers you are seeking. Blog entries are restricted to members, but any site visitor is able to respond to an existing blog.

 All the businesses listed on this site are represented by real people. Anyone can make direct contact with any of our security professionals. Every member of Security Source is an independent security provider. This means that any visitor can contact more than one provider in order to make an informed decision. Despite the independence of our members, many of our members are willing to collaborate if the best interests of the customer are served; this is especially true of members of our Roundtable. This may be a beneficial alternative for clients that have a diversity of needs or who requires services at multiple locations. 

As this site grows companies will become members that may have a national and even an international presence. Security Source encourages these companies to join with multiple memberships on a regional basis. No matter how large the members company, Security Source requires that the company is represented by a responsible individual. None of our members feel the need to hide behind anonymity. There is some validity is the old adage that national and international companies are only as good as their local operations. 

If you are visiting this site seeking a security provider and are unable to find an individual or company to satisfy your needs, contact any of our independent security consulting firms. These firms will endeavor to put you in touch with the appropriate provider. There is no charge for this support service. 

Questions regarding this site may be directed to bill@securitysourceonline.com or you may call 805/410-2300.

One of the most difficult environments to secure is medical centers and hospital facilities. That being said, we all understand the rigors of securing a DOD manufacturing plant, a nuclear power plant, and/or a biotech research center. However, with the three previous examples security is, in part, predicated on a go and no-go basis. Those that have accredited credentials are allowed entry, those that do not, are denied access. Exceptions are generally not allowed and access is not predicated on the judgment of the security officer.

 

Parenthetically, every day of the week hospitals allow access to individuals who, if they had their druthers, they would rather deny. Most hospital administrators want to portray a welcoming sense of openness to all who come to their hospital. Therefore, to use a football analogy, hospitals must endeavor to provide a bend, but don’t break defense. In other words, it’s a given that folks are going to enter the hospital that shouldn’t be there. How does a hospital maintain a sense off welcoming openness and still remain secure? This means that the hospital as a secondary line of defense must try to control where these people go and they must limit what they can do to a reasonable acceptable level. This also means hospital security officers are required to make numerous judgment calls on a daily basis.

 

Consider these realities against the background of recent hospital shootings, assaults, including sexual assaults, robberies and infant abductions. Whenever an event such as those mentioned here occurs, you can rest assured it will be on the six o’clock news across the country. These events and many more are also almost certain to induce lawsuits. Once a major incident occurs, you cannot un-ring the bell. When an incident, such as a sexual assault on a patient happens, the clock stops and everything that was done and sometimes more importantly, not done will be scrutinized by the plaintiff’s attorney. The antidote, scrutinize your security program now! If hospital security programs are not periodically fully reviewed, and subsequently something goes wrong, there is a high likelihood that the plaintiff’s security expert will do the review of the hospital security program after the horse has left the gate.

 

Among those enterprises that cater to the public such as shopping malls, hotels and entertainment venues, hospitals are always held to the highest standard of care when things go wrong. For example, the damages that are likely to be awarded to the victim of a sexual assault while a patient in a hospital, will be several times higher than those awarded to the same victim had the assault occurred in the parking structure of a major shopping mall. This is especially true when victims are patients. Because patients are generally deemed helpless and fully dependant on the hospital for their care and well being, hospitals therefore have a higher duty to maintain adequate security.

 

Lawsuits that assert negligence are generally filed for two broad based reasons. Hospitals can be sued to what they didn’t do and they can be sued for what they did do (intentional torts). Most security driven lawsuits, including security lawsuits against hospitals, assert a claim of inadequate security under the theory of premises liability. This is a, should have, would have, could have lawsuit. Typically, plaintiff attorneys, through the prism of 20/20 hindsight will try to reverse engineer the security program looking for inherent weaknesses they can sell to a jury.

 

Examples of this category of claims often assert there were insufficient numbers of security officers, inadequate visitor control, inadequate lighting and inadequate locking control. Intentional torts are most commonly represented claims of false arrest and use of excessive force. Another of disturbing trends over the last 10 years is an increase of sexual assaults and simple assaults committed by clinical personnel against patients, sometimes coupled with elder abuse. Most complaints filed by the plaintiff’s bar almost always include claims lodged against the defendant of inadequate training, inadequate screening of employees (including temporary employees) and inadequate supervision. The point we are trying to make is, once an incident occurs, the clock stops and the various parties to the litigation look backwards as they evaluate the adequacy and efficacy of the security program in question. It is for this reason and others that security managers must always look forward and anticipate. Security is and must remain an anticipatory discipline.

 

In order to prove negligence in a personal injury case, the plaintiff must usually show that the incident in question was reasonably foreseeable. The practical definition of foreseeability, largely predicated on case law, varies somewhat from one state to another. An example of foreseeability could be, if a visitor is assaulted in your parking structure, should the owner/manager of that parking structure reasonably have foreseen that an assault was more likely than not, to have occurred and did they try to mitigate the breech? From a practical standpoint, one could reason that concept of foreseeability means you get one bite at the apple. This means that those incidents that cause patients or visitors to become victims of criminal acts must be reasonably mitigated through the implementation of corrective action. As a matter of best practices, security incidents should always produce corrective actions. Incidents that are ignored will often come back and bite you.

 

Healthcare security requires a broad definition.

Many hospital organizations perceive the security program a compilation of security guards, video, surveillance, access control systems and infant protection systems. Contrary to this perception, experience has taught us that a significant number of security driven lawsuits against hospitals involve circumstances that are largely controlled by clinical personnel. For example, the decisions to place a patent on a 72 hour behavioral health hold, or not, is not a security department decision. Yet when things go wrong, the complaint (a legal filing) implies inadequate security. When sexual assaults are committed against patients by staff persons or by registry personnel, the complaint implies the security organization was lax and should have prevented the assault. We have found through the use of employee attitude surveys, in a number of hospitals over the past 7 years, that many, if not most employees, believe security is the job of security personnel. This “we” versus “them” perception often results in rank and file employees turning a blind eye to serious threats.

 

We have all heard the athletic expression, there is no “I” in team. Security must be a team effort. Security must be the job of every employee including clinical personnel, facilities employees, housekeepers and even volunteers. The more sets of eyes and ears we can involve in keeping the hospital safer, the better.

 

Hospital security programs do not always fit the usual cost/benefit paradigm. For example, hospitals devote significant resources to protection infants even though the risk of an infant abduction is fraction of 1%. When addressing concerns for a terrorist attack and the need to protect the country, President Bush once stated, “The terrorist only needs to be right once. We need to right every time. “ The impact of a patient being victimized by is significantly amplified is a hospital setting as opposed to that same person being victimized in a hotel room. It is very difficult to assign the notion of contributory negligence to a helpless patient.

 

Hospital security programs must therefore be synergistic as well as dynamic and nimble enough to adjust to the ever changing environment. Hospital security directors are well served by forming a number of strategic alliances. As hospital security programs evolve, the security director would be well served in teaming up with the hospital’s risk management team as they develop security policies and protocols. Obviously the development of symbiotic relations between the security operation and local law enforcement can produce significant benefit, Contingency planning with local police agencies will help clarify the respective roles of all involved parties.

 

Security managers and the programs they manage will reap benefits from developing open lines of communication with department managers, especially with the emergency department, behavioral health and facilities. Security managers should also keep open lines of communication with human resources, especially in matters of pre-employment screening, workplace violence prevention employee discipline. The human resources department can also be helpful in keeping the security department tuned in to issues that may crop up related to various bargaining units within some hospitals.

 

It is also important to train security personnel, before the fact, about the perils of security litigation. When security officers understand how and why errors can either cause security litigation or potentially exacerbate the impact of security litigation, they are more likely to buy in with the goal of preventing, or at the least, minimizing the impact of security lawsuits. For example, when security officers realize that the incident report they write today, may be entered into evidence in a courtroom tomorrow of subpoenaed by plaintiff’s counsel, they tend to be more careful and thorough.

 

Last, but certainly not least, no security program will ever come close to reaching its potential without employee engagement. An effective Security Awareness Program (SAP) will multiple the impact of all other security procedures and systems. SAPs must be formally structured programs. They require continual reinforcement and adjustment to ever changing needs. Most hospitals do a terrific job extolling the value the safety is job one for all employees. The same vigor must be applied to security programs.

www.SecuritySourceOline.com (SSO) is open for business. This marketing/informational site is unique because the site is managed and overseen by seasoned security professionals, not marketeers. Security Source Online provides the vehicle for the marketing of a wide range of security services and products on one hand, and on the other hand a source for practical information aimed at the mitigation of security threats. The SSO advisory board consists of security professionals representing the breadth and width of the United States and can be found on the website.

This website is unique because it serves two purposes. First it is a resource for security information. The site contains an ever growing number of blogs that address variety of security subject matter. SSO blogs are responsive to problems and questions posed by those seeking answers to difficult problems. No legitimate security topics are ignored. The site also provides links to a number of current security news stories. All blog postings are screened to ensure they are truly informational as opposed to being thinly veiled advertisements. The best way to advertise is to provide usable information for those looking for answers. We want visitors to the site to return again and again, not only to locate problem solvers and security equipment when needed, but to also find ideas for mitigation security threats.

Second, as mentioned this site is intended to be a resource for those truly need professional security problem solvers. As our membership grows SecuritySourceOnline.com will become the place to go when security expertise is needed. SSO members will consist of security integrators, security consultants, forensic security experts, alarm companies, security equipment providers, contract security providers, fraud investigators and information security experts. As this site grows, you will find security expertise representatives from all over the world. SSO members represent such disciplines as hospitality security, healthcare security, retail security, information security, supply chain security and many other security disciplines.

The Security Source Online Group had been on LinkedIn for only about a year and has more than 1300 members. Within this group there have been numerous and diverse discussions. SSO on LinkedIn is testimony to the wide range on interest in this unique approach. The Security Source Online Group on LinkedIn continues to attract a diversified group of international security expertise, as well as those seeking answers to difficult challenges, and will continue to do so. On LinkedIn about half of the members of Security Source Online Group members are security providers with the other half being security services users. One of the goals of the SSO LinkedIn group is to encourage thoughtful interaction between users and providers with a minimal amount of commercialism. SSO will provide access to regional providers as members with both a national and international presence as well as those providers who serve local markets.

Our security provider members are encouraged to address the issues of the day by posting topical and thoughtful articles on our blog. We want visitors to SSO to consider the site to be a resource of current security management and security program development information. Those seeking security products or services will be afforded direct access to any of our members with no middle-man interference. Any member who does not maintain high ethical standards will be removed from the site immediately.

The site also hosts a Speaker’s Bureau for those members who provide special insights within the ever-changing world of security services and security technology my making educational public presentations. The SSO Speaker’s Bureau consists of individuals who regularly making presentations of ASIS Internationals and other prestigious trade organizations. Those members of the SSO Speaker’s Bureau understand that our role is to inform as opposed to making forty five minute sale pitches.

Finally, the Security Source Online Roundtable is comprised of individuals who hold widely recognized professional certifications in the various security discipline members. A condition of Roundtable membership is a willingness to form strategic partnerships other Security Source Online Members, in order to meet the synergistic needs of clients they serve. These partnerships will afford SSO member clients with a single point of contact as well as the capability to serve many geographic locals in a coordinated and cohesive manner.

Those interested in becoming a member of the Security Source Online family are now able to do so at a very low annual fee. These low introductory sign up fees will be available on a very limited time basis only. Our goal is to provide an international security resource for those individuals and organizations seeking security information and providers of security related services.

AUTHORITY: Health and Safety Code Section (HSC) 1257.7

This All Facilities Letter (AFL) is to inform you of recent changes to HSC Section 1257.7 as a result of recently chaptered legislation. The information in this AFL is a summary of a portion of Assembly Bill (AB) 1083 (Perez, Chapter 506, Statutes of 2009), relative to security and safety assessments and development of security plans.

As amended by AB 1083, HSC Section 1257.7 adds specificity to current requirements for hospitals to assess security and safety and develop associated security plans.

The law requires, after July 1, 2010, all licensed GACHs, APHs, and SHs to conduct, not less than annually, a security and safety assessment and, using the assessment, develop, and annually update based on the assessment, a security plan with measures to protect personnel, patients, and visitors from aggressive or violent behavior. The security and safety assessment must examine trends of aggressive or violent behavior at the facility. These hospitals must track incidents of aggressive or violent behavior as part of the quality assessment and improvement program and for the purposes of developing a security plan to deter and manage further aggressive or violent acts of a similar nature. The plan may include, but must not be limited to, security considerations relating to all of the following:

(1) Physical layout
(2) Staffing
(3) Security personnel availability
(4) Policy and training related to appropriate responses to violent acts
(5) Efforts to cooperate with local law enforcement regarding violent acts in the facility
 
In developing this plan, the hospital must consider guidelines or standards on violence in health care facilities issued by the department, the Division of Occupational Safety and Health Administration. As part of the security plan, a hospital must adopt security policies including, but not limited to, personnel training policies designed to protect personnel, patients, and visitors from aggressive or violent behavior. In developing the plan and the assessment, the hospital must consult with affected employees, including the recognized collective bargaining agent or agents, if any, and members of the hospital medical staff organized pursuant to Section 2282 of the Business and Professions Code. This consultation may occur through hospital committees.

Over the past three or four years, Security Management Services International, Inc. has been using a Likert style Security Questionnaire which we have developed. We generally use this questionnaire as a precursor to providing our clients with a complete security assessment. Over these past few years we have recorded responses from thousands of respondents across the country. The security questionnaire is posted online with a unique username and password for each client. The respondents are all afforded anonymity. They are also invited to make any comments they wish. Clearly this questionnaire measures perception and hopefully reality. Typically this Questionnaire is posted well in advance of the assessment process and remains available through the assessment process.

The point we are trying to make in this very brief presentation is that effective security programs must be cognizant as to how they are actually impacting behavior. Behaviors are often driven more by perception than reality. Security is all about behavior modification. Clearly a discipline that understands this concept is CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design). Perception has everything to do with deterrence. Think about it. The deterrent value of a security officer, a camera or a fence is clearly the product of the collective perceptions of those whom these methodologies are intended to affect. If everyone perceives that no one is paying attention to the images produced by the cameras watching the parking lot, how much deterrent value do those cameras have?

Finally:  It is not what you say, but what is heard.
             It is not what you show, but what is seen.
             It is not what you mean, but what is understood.
             Perception is indeed, reality.

William H. Nesbitt, CPP
President
Security Management Services International, Inc

William H. Nesbitt, CPP is a Board Certified Protection Professional certified in Security Management and the President of Security Management Services International, Inc. He has more than 35 years of diverse security management experience. That experience includes his participation in approximately 600 security driven lawsuits as a court certified security expert covering 40 states. Bill is a longstanding member of ASIS International, IAHSS, ASHRM, and ACHE. He is also a member of the ASHRM Patient Safety Interest Network. For questions call: 805-499-3800. Visit www.smsiinc.com

• The client has, or is considering implementation of an enterprise-wide formal security program and strategy.
• The program has a designated security manager or an individual responsible for oversight of the security program in addition having other managerial responsibilities.
• The security program has or intends to include the application of security measures, that may include, but is not limited to:
  • Access management system
  • Closed circuit television usage
  • Alarm system
  • Information protection programs
  • Uniformed security personnel
    • Contract
    • Proprietary
  • Investigation personnel
• The enterprise is composed of an excess of 100 employees

• An initial comprehensive security assessment. (It is important to establish a foundational basis from which to move ahead and to build upon moving forward.)
  • Physical security audit
    • Lighting
    • CPTED (Crime Prevention Though Environmental Design)
    • CCTV
    • Access management
      • Card system
      • Locking systems
    • Security personnel usage
  • Pre-employment practices
  • Inventory and supply chain management security
  • Exterior and perimeter security
  • Security training needs
  • Security awareness programs
  • Internal & external crime threat levels

• Development of a Security Plan
  • Mission statement
  • Job descriptions
  • Workplace Violence Prevention
  • Metrics
  • RFP development if deemed necessary
    • Vendor selection oversight

• Initiation of Perspective Premium Incident Management System
  • Establishment of the Perspective Premium Incident Management program
  • Security Management Support in setting up Perspective to ensure it meets site specific needs
    • Establishment of Perspective reporting, and other output functionality
      • Customized Reports
      • Charts
      • Graphs
      • Multimedia Presentation Capabilities
      • “State of the Art” Analytics
    • Ensuring that security decisions are data driven

• Establishment of Security Management Support structure
  • Development and defining the support role of Security Management Services International, including but not limited to:
    • Determination of Site visits per year
    • Unlimited phone/online support service
    • Incident management protocol
    • Initiation and promulgation of Security Awareness Program
  • Response to special needs protocol

• Investment
  • A one-time modest retainer
  • Contract for One Monthly Fee for Security Management Services, inclusive of the Perspective Premium monthly subscription

• Benefits
  • These combined services clearly fit the description that “The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
  • The value of these bundled services is greater than the cost of the individual components.
  • The likelihood of reduced liability.
  • The reduction of both internal and external losses.
  • The assurance of achieving greater value and return on investment from the accumulated security vendors.
  • The result of maintaining a contemporary security program that addresses the needs of today and tomorrow.

SMSI does not seek to replace the existing security program, its management and/or personnel. This programhas as a primary mission of enhancing the existing security program by improving its value added impact to the organization it serves. All too often securitydecisions areintuitively derived and may or may not sufficiently address specific needs. SMSI believes that security programs should be need drivenpredicated on hard data.       

How does one develop a successful security program? How does one decide whether to use guards, alarms, and/or CCTV? If we decide to use guards, how many do we need? If cameras are the remedy of choice, how many are needed and where should they be located? Can a business have an effective security program without the use of security guards or cameras?

There needs to be a logical progression to be followed if the security program is to achieve the best result. Whether you are responsible for a hospital, a manufacturing operation, a hotel or a shopping center, the best security programs are derived from a thorough security assessment. Security assessments should be conducted by a qualified and objective professional. Often the use of a qualified security consultant achieves the best result because of his “outside the box” perspective. One of the biggest advantages of using a qualified Security Consultant is objectivity. If the use of a security consultant fits your needs, be sure the consultant has no ties to the security product industry, including contract guard services.

The best security programs are developed from the bottom up and not from the top down. Many security programs or security program upgrades are born out of a crisis management mind-set. A security incident occurs with little warning and panic sets in resulting in less than optimal decision making. Often the first response to an adverse event is to hire contract security guards, one of the most expensive countermeasures. Sometimes we find managers installing CCTV without any idea as to why or how cameras should be used. There is often the erroneous assumption that once cameras or alarms are installed, all risks and threats will dissipate. The tendency is to apply the most costly remedies before considering low cost solutions.

Security programs are generally targeted at the protection of people and property. The degree that one security program emphasizes people over property, or vice versa,  varies and is dependent on a wide range of site-specific factors. In most businesses the primary threat to property loss is derived from employees. Those businesses that cater to the public tend to emphasize the protection of people, in large part, because of liability exposure. Businesses that want   to provide protection to the public who frequent their premises often see the hiring of security guards or the installation of security equipment analogous to purchasing and insurance policy. This assumption can be very risky.

The use of security personnel along with security equipment can be very helpful and preventative if properly applied. However, when improperly applied, liability may actually be increased. One of the pitfalls of using security technology is that many employees may view these devices as omnipotent thereby absolving them from personal responsibility and involvement. For example, a secured hospital mother-baby unit suffers an infant abduction because a nurse holds the door open as the abductor walks off with the baby. Another example: A suspicious looking character is noticed walking about a hotel and though noticed, no one acts until after the rape occurs. A stranger walks in to a public school and molests a young boy and no employee pays attention. These examples are not exaggerations.

Security methodologies and techniques are all about behavior modification. Security programs should encourage positive behavior and discourage behavior antithetical to a safe and secure work environment. One of the most pervasive and  inherent weaknesses of many security programs is employee apathy. If hotel employees believe that security officers will protect guests and their property from harm at the exclusion of their daily involvement, they are sadly mistaken. If a hospital’s employees believe patients will be kept save by the access control system coupled with CCTV, they too are mistaken. If every staff member of a public school does not make it their responsibility to know who is on their campus, bad things can and will happen.

Clearly the most effective security program as well as one of the least expensive involves the full participation of all employees. Remember, criminals generally want anonymity. Anonymity can be denied by engaged employees.  You do not need a plethora of bells and whistles to have an effective security program. In fact before expenditures are made for bells, and whistles and security officers, a security awareness program involving all employees should be initiated. If after the security awareness program has been initiated, there are still gaps that present security risks, subsequent security expenditures will result in a far greater return on investment if employees are fully engaged. Employee vigilance is inexpensive insurance. Ongoing security awareness program increase the deterrent value of the bells and whistles. When security breaches occur, mostly likely the lack of employee vigilance was the primary weak link.

Qualified Security Consulting firms can provide the expertise needed to ensure that the Security Awareness Program required by each enterprise is developed to me a specific set of needs. Remember, Security is a situational discipline.

A woman in her 70s has a sizable estate acquired from a lifetime of hard work and smart investments. Lonely and overly trusting, she falls prey to a much younger man who persuades her to sign over her assets to him.

A frail widower hires an attractive housekeeper to help him with various household tasks. She eventually sweet talks him into giving her large gifts of money to pay for nursing school, clear her debts and pay for her mother’s operation.

The elders in these scenarios do not have dementia. Most courts would find them competent. How then are they bamboozled into losing what has taken a lifetime to accumulate? These examples of financial abuse (a form of elder abuse) occurred because of an insidious process called undue influence.

The perpetrators of undue influence use various techniques and manipulations to gain power and compliance, exploiting the trust, dependency, and fear of older adults. Over time, the perpetrators gain control over the decision making of their unwitting victims.

Anyone can be unduly influenced including the stressed, ill, sleep deprived, lonely or frightened of any age, but the elderly are particularly at risk because of failing health, isolation and a tendency to trust. Margaret Singer Ph.D.,an expert on cults, brainwashing, and persuasion, has pinpointed several factors that perpetrators commonly use to groom potential victims. They include:

• Isolation from others. Telling the victim she was abandoned by her relatives and cutting off outside communication by telling visitors or callers that the senior does not want to see or talk to them.
• Building a siege mentality.  Making the victim believe that enemies (including healthcare providers and family members) are lurking everywhere. They convince their victims that these “enemies” are going to take away their houses, pensions and social security, and that they are going to put them in nursing homes.
• Fostering dependency. They create the fiction that the influencer is the only trustworthy person and the only one who cares about the older person.
• Creating a sense of powerlessness. Slowly but surely, the influencer persuades the senior that only they have the power to do anything to help the elder.
• Making the senior fearful by exaggerating their illnesses and disabilities. The perpetrator treats the elder more and more fragilely, exaggerating their ailments.  

Unfortunately, individuals who prey on vulnerable seniors are often the proverbial “wolf in sheep’s clothing.” They may appear to be warm, sympathetic and selfless friends, caregivers and even family members, but they are not. Their numbers include:

• Psychopaths or sociopaths, who get wind of the money, resolve to go after it, and have no conscience about committing financial abuse.
• Individuals with character defects whose greed is an overriding motivation.
• People who perceive themselves as entitled to the money. They feel that they deserve to have the elder’s money or assets because their own lives have been fraught with hardship or because the older person wasn’t as appreciative of them as they should be.  

Family, neighbors, friends and professionals who come in contact with older people can help in the following ways:

• Check that the elder’s health and nutritional needs are being taken care of. A perpetrator may try to weaken an elder’s will by getting the senior to discontinue medications, neglect their health and eat poorly. 
• Keep the elder socially involved. The best insurance is for the older person to stay connected to relatives and people who they have known for a long time. Senior Centers and social service programs are also excellent resources.
• Provide the elder with information about undue influence and unscrupulous people that prey on senior citizens. Urge them to be careful.
• Advise anyone who has contact with seniors to be on the look-out for the signs that someone is attempting to control the elderly person for their own gain. 

If you suspect that an elder is a victim of undue influence, as soon as possible. Put every detail and all dates down in writing. States vary on abuse reporting requirements and procedures. However, each state has a service designated to receive and investigate allegations of elder abuse. The Eldercare Locator (800-677-1116) is a federal agency that will provide a referral to the proper agency for the area that the elder lives in.

Reporting suspicions of financial abuse via undue influence to the appropriate authority will begin an investigation and may prevent financial ruin or at least bring a halt to the elder’s suffering.

Rachelle Zukerman, Ph.D. is author of Eldercare for Dummies and Professor Emeritus at UCLA. Dr. Zukerman provides litigation support and consultation on elder abuse and standards of care in Skilled Nursing Facilities and other institutions which provide health care and housing to elderly individuals. Dr. Zukerman can be contacted at 818-313-8622 or DrRZuk@aol.com.

• They will lose the care they depend on.
• The abuse will get worse.
• No one will believe them.
• “Nothing will be done anyway.”
• They will experience shame and embarrassment. 

• Name-calling
• Giving the “silent treatment” as punishment
• Insults
• Threats
• Teasing
• Isolation from others 

• Misuse of the elder’s funds
• Forgery
• Forced property transfers
• Using the elder’s money to buy expensive goods without the older person’s permission
• Improper use of legal guardianship arrangements
• Not allowing the older person to have access to his or her money
• Scams of all sorts  

• Allowing the elder to have soiled or inappropriate clothing, an unshaven appearance, dirty or broken fingernails, and unwashed hair (which can lead to loss of dignity and despair)
• Not assisting with eating and drinking (which leads to malnutrition and dehydration)
• Not assisting with personal hygiene (which leads to offensive odor and social isolation, oral infections and skin breakdown)
• Positioning or turning the elder’s body incorrectly or not at all (which leads to limb contractures and bedsores)
• Ignoring call lights, buzzers, and cries for help
• Not assisting with walking and range of motion exercises (which leads to loss of mobility) 

Because of the ever increasing violence occurring in hospitals, administrators and security managers are often considering the possibility of using metal detectors to screen entrants to hospitals, especially emergency rooms. Mark W. LaLonde, MA a Licensed Security Consultant in the Province of British Columbia and a Managing Partner with Canpro Training Resources (www.canprotri.net), recently authored an article germane to the considered use of metal detectors in healthcare settings. This article may help to inform decisions regarding the use of metal detection equipment, both the pitfalls and benefits. Albeit the perspective for this article is from a Canadian point of view, where security challenges may differ somewhat from the perspective of a U.S. Hospital, it is worth reading.

Metal Detector Report (PDF)

This past few years seems to indicate that hospitals are increasingly exposed to premises liability lawsuits where the primary assertion is, “Inadequate Security.” Admittedly, our viewpoint is predicated on anecdotal information. Security Experts who actually testify in these kinds of cases are seeing an upswing. The sad fact is that most of these lawsuits would have been prevented with a moderate amount of self examination. The majority of these cases involved sexual assault claims emanating from a wide range of plaintiffs. In some cases the assertion was that a hospital employee committed the assault, while others asserted the assault was committed by an unknown third party. Clearly hospital security programs must be examined.

Allegations indicate that these assaults were committed in stairwells, parking structures and/or in patient rooms. Claims of negligence assert inadequate training, negligent supervision, inadequate security, inadequate access control, inadequate employee orientation, etc. Some cases could be classified as intentional torts, in that the alleged perpetrator was a hospital employee. Although many of these litigations are defensible, most hospitals are unprepared, before the fact, to meet the challenge of a security lawsuit. It is somewhat ironic that hospitals are not prepared for this kind of onslaught, while at the same time, they do a good job in the prevention and mitigation of medical malpractice suits. Secondly, hospitals tend to defend these litigations by continually reacting to the plaintiff’s Complaint. By reacting, they fail to draw attention to the myriad of affirmative practices that are in place to prevent security breaches. Hospital security programs must anticipate threats and reduce the risk factor.

Other cases we have had include claims of child molestation, infant abductions and homicide. A few cases were intentional tort cases, usually asserting excessive force by emergency department personnel.

Once a lawsuit is filed, the clock stops and the hospital security program is subject to detailed dissection and examination, especially if a competent security expert is retained. It is likely that the security department records for the past three years will be subpoenaed along with police reports. These records may include employment and screening records, training records, past incident reports, and crime data from the local police department. Hospital Security Department policies and procedures as well as the safety committee minutes will be subject to the discovery process.

The only way to attempt to mitigate security litigation is to prepare for that eventuality now. The cost of reaction is two to five times the cost of pro-action. Security litigation is also unique when compared to other types of personal injury law. The difference is most apparent when trying to establish a reasonable standard of care. The reasonable standard of care for most medical malpractice lawsuits is usually definable within specific, generally accepted standards. The same can be said for product liability cases, structural defect cases, and slip and fall cases.

What makes defining the standard of care in a security case so difficult?

The standard of care for sufficient security is difficult to ascertain and define. Determination of the adequacy of security is not predicated on universal standards. The adequacy of hospital security program for a hospital in Keene, New Hampshire, is different form a hospital security program in Los Angeles, California. The security needs for rural hospitals differ from the needs of urban facilities. The security needs for hospitals with Level One trauma centers is different from hospitals with Level Three trauma centers. Therefore, hospital security is a very situational discipline. Each facility must determine how much security is needed to satisfy a reasonable standard of care. The best way to make this determination is by commissioning a complete security assessment by a competent security professional.

If a hospital is sued for inadequate security, expect the employee orientation program to come under intense scrutiny. Employees will be deposed and questions will be put to them about how much security education was contained in the New Employee Orientation Program. Clearly a complete security assessment must be the first step in mitigating these lawsuits. Once an assessment has been completed, it is important that any employee orientation program reflect the needs turned up in the assessment process.

The security needs of each hospital are separate and unique. With that in mind, here are some general areas of interest in making your hospital litigation resistant. These areas of discussion are not all inclusive, but they represent a cross section of approaches that should be given consideration.

First, make sure that all security personnel are properly trained, and that the training is fully documented. Do not wholly rely on standardized training packages. Some standardized training programs are useful as an integral part of a holistic training protocol. However, development of site specific training programs predicated on a needs analysis is a must. These standards should also be applied to the curriculum of the security portion of the employee orientation program. The essence of a good security program is that, “Security is everyone’s job.”

Second, if the facility is using a contract security service, make sure that the vendor does not actually increase your level of liability. Your corporate legal counsel must scrutinize all contracts, and, if necessary, modify the contracts to favor the hospital as opposed to the contract guard service. Require the contract service to provide post orders for every security officer position on each shift. It is your responsibility to require the agency to meet all appropriate training standards.

Third, commission a security audit. The security audit should focus on both internal and external threats. It should also examine the full range of asset protection issues. An effective asset protection program can produce measurable benefits capable of offsetting a significant portion of security costs. A crucial portion of any security audit must focus on the full range of access management issues (visitor control). There is a wide range of divergence in the way hospitals manage access and visitors. Some hospitals have virtually little or no visitor control, while others have very stringent controls. Either extreme may or may not meet a reasonable standard of care. Remember, security is a situational discipline.

Fourth, when incidents do occur, be sure to fully document all facts. Even the appearance of cover-up will seriously exacerbate the potential fallout of a security incident. It is also important, in the wake of all security incidents, to take and document corrective action. Corrective action can mitigate the assertion that subsequent incidents are foreseeable.

Fifth, if your hospital becomes the object of a security lawsuit, be sure that your defense team is led by an attorney that has experience with security litigation. Hospitals will frequently use law firms that they generally use for medical malpractice defense. These firms will be able to mount an effective defense if they employ a security expert thoroughly conversant with the nuances of hospital security.

There are two implicit strategies relative to making your hospital security litigation resistant. First, through the process of assessment and subsequent preventative countermeasures, most incidents can be anticipated and prevented. Second, when incidents occur, despite the institution of prevention strategies, proper response can reduce the probability that the incident will eventually result in litigation.

 Disclaimer
Security is a situational discipline. One size does not fit all. There are no universal standards. This article is intended to raise issues and provoke thought. Any solutions suggested in this article may or may not have direct application for a specific enterprise.  SSO invites commentary, question and/or criticism on this topic.