What you should know as a security guard in California when you are navigating a pandemic

As the COVID-19 Virus has spread across the earth in a surprisingly short amount of time, the world’s leaders have responded with alacrity, taking drastic action to protect the citizens from deaths and destruction. Businesses across the world have been shuttered, as communities and society locks down to protect the virus burning across the nation, putting the sanctity of human life above all else. But in this quagmire, firms offering commercial security services are in a unique position…as those who perform the unique task of ensuring people’s physical safety. Now, they must also learn how to concurrently manage the risks of the pandemic as well, while managing their normal job duties.

So how can they do this? If you are a security guard in California, and want to learn, and take part in, solving the new challenges posed by COVID-19, then take a look at this article! The security industry is one that must always be mindful of current events, and constantly adapt to face the dynamic situations of the world. This virus represents a significant threat to the world, and so, here is how you can combat it

1. Adopt Technology

One of the best ways of safeguarding yourself, and others, from exposure, is to take the chance of exposure out completely. Here are some ways that technology can help you do that, by either replacing the human component, or having it located remotely.

a. Remote Surveillance

Security Patrols are amongst the important set of duties that can be performed by security guards. They traverse the length of the property that they are protecting, and make sure that there are no security issues. To achieve a similar level of protection, CCTV cameras and remote sensors are a great way to achieve the same, or even better level or protection. A single guard can surveil the whole property by himself, and avoid encountering anyone unless absolutely necessary

b. Electronic Access Control

An ID card is a great transmission vector. Physical inspection at entry checkpoints ensures that every single guard touches the same card, so it is a prime target for COVID transmission. Using electronic access control powered by facial recognition or an RFID card ensures that even facilities that require controlled access can use a “no-touch” system to ensure that only authorised users access the site, for example in construction security.

2. Playing the numbers

The biggest factor to transmission is the density of population, that increases the chances of random encounters. Security services in Los Angeles, a densely populated area, are taking a new approach to this, by adjusting the numbers. They are doing this in two ways

a. Spreading shifts

Rather than scheduling shifts with multiple people in the same security patrol in orange country, they are instead spreading them across shifts, only one or two people per shift. This ensures that they are adequately social distanced

b. Permanent Stations

Sharing gear, and physical stations is also a risk to contamination. Previously, many guards offering security services would have a new site or station weekly, as their duties changed. Now, they are moving to permanent stations, to prevent cross transmission across guards.

This article has shown you how security services companies are adapting to face the new situation. As the reality of our future sets in, and we start understanding that this is how the course of events will be for the next few years, studies like these will help divine what strategies work to contain the virus, and which ones are ineffective, improving our survival in the long run. For the security industry, this is imperative, as they provide an essential service that would have grave consequences if it wasn’t available to society.