In Lockdown, Office Safety and Security is Paramount

By Alex Greenwood

Though numerous businesses seem like virtual ghost towns due to efforts to control the pandemic, it’s still of vital importance to ensure offices are safe and secure. This means offices must be kept clean for employees who report to work, as well as making sure security measures are in place should people with ill intent look for a way to get in when no one is around.

Office Security in Lockdown

Though it may seem an afterthought with the intense focus on cleanliness and mitigation of virus transmission, your office’s physical security is still as vital as ever. If offices are nearly empty due to work from home protocols, they may become a juicy target for burglars hoping to capitalize on a relatively unguarded space.

From security cameras to door locks, all aspects of securing the office space should be evaluated. A locksmith can help by suggesting the best high-security locks to help you enhance the safety of your business, and can also provide you with a master key to help you gain access to every room inside your commercial space. Locksmiths can also assist you with peace of mind and security after an employee moves on by changing out locks and issuing new keys.

“We appreciate not all companies are able to organize building security services, so we have put together some key activity recommendations for business owners to help keep your office as safe and secure as possible,” said Alan Townley, group sales director at Taurus Security Group.

Among other recommendations, Townley recommends deactivating key fobs for employees who will not be in the office during lockdown; also making routine visits to the office to ensure all is normal and to test sensors and alarms. Checking windows, perimeter fencing, and securing cash, laptops, and other easily stolen items are also important, he said.

Office Cleanliness in Lockdown

If your office will be open during lockdown—even with a skeleton crew, it is important to adhere to CDC guidelines for cleanliness, including:

• Conduct a thorough hazard assessment of the workplace to identify potential workplace hazards that could increase risks for COVID-19 transmission.
• Identify work and common areas where employees could have close contact (within 6 feet) with others — for example, meeting rooms, break rooms, the cafeteria, locker rooms, check-in areas, waiting areas, and routes of entry and exit.
• Include all employees in communication plans — for example, management, staff, utility employees, relief employees, janitorial staff, and maintenance staff.
• If contractors are employed in the workplace, develop plans to communicate with the contracting company about changes to work processes and requirements for the contractors to prevent transmission of COVID-19.

Before total resumption of business operations, the CDC recommends:

• Evaluate the building and its mechanical and life safety systems to determine if the building is ready for occupancy. Check for hazards associated with prolonged facility shutdowns such as mold growth, pests, and rodents, or issues arising from stagnant water systems.
• Ensure that ventilation systems in your facility operate properly.
• Increase circulation of outdoor air as much as possible by opening windows and doors if possible, and using fans.
• Conduct a thorough hazard assessment to identify potential workplace hazards that could increase risks for COVID-19 transmission.

There is more to maintaining a safe and secure office during lockdown beyond locking up and staying home. Paying attention to and addressing the various areas where threats— whether human, animal or viral—can strike, is job one.