Winter security checklist

It is crucial to make sure that your security systems are always in the best possible condition to be able to protect and prevent security risks and damage to your buildings. There are many ways of doing this from covering the equipment to removing camera obstructions and checking entry points. Throughout this blog we will go through a checklist of the many ways you can optimise your security systems this winter.

External area

The external area of your building is a key place to start when it comes to building security. Ensure that all fences and gates are fixed and secure. Winter weather can cause damage to these elements which could then impact the security of your actual buildings so it is important to check these.

Lighting

Lighting the parameters of your building will help increase the reliability of your security. These can be permanent lights or motion detection lights, both work well as a deterrent especially now there are less hours of daylight. If you already have lights installed around your buildings now is a good time to check they are all working correctly and replace or repair any that aren’t.

Plants

Autumn and winter seem to be when the majority of us put down the gardening gloves but it is really important to make sure that we keep all trees and plants trimmed so they don’t obstruct cameras or become perfect hiding spaces for burglars. It is also important to make sure that long branches are far enough away from security devices so they don’t become loose and cause damage in strong winds.

Access points

The next areas of a building to check for any future security risks are the entry and access points. Check all windows and doors around the building for any cracks or weaknesses. These can cause more issues with bad weather such as leaks, flooding and equipment damage. Whilst checking the windows and doors it is worth checking that all joints and hinges are fully functioning as damage to these can increase the chances of successful break ins by passing opportunists.

Cameras

For cameras to be effective they need to have a clear view of the area you want to monitor. Winter brings with it a few factors that can affect a camera’s visibility. Bad weather can leave a camera blurred, damaged or covered. Regular checks to make sure the lenses are clear will reduce the chances of your security being compromised. It may be worth checking if there are covers designed for your camera to protect it from freezing or being damaged by winter weather.

Personal Safety

Winter brings with it shorter days with less light resulting in a lot of people starting and finishing work in the dark. With the increase of risk that comes with working and commuting in the dark it is really important that businesses put extra attention into making employees feel safe, even more so if they are working in buildings alone or having to make visits to different locations for work. Personal alarms are a great investment to make your staff feel safer in and outside of the workplace.

Occupier procedures

It is also really beneficial for the occupiers of your buildings to know where and how to report a problem if they were to notice one. This increases the amount of people looking out for the safety of your building. These are people who will be using the building regularly so are more likely to pick up on irregularities and security risks much quicker resulting in them being reported and dealt with more efficiently.