Importance of Safety and Security in Warehouse
In April 2019, police arrested four Amazon employees for stealing $100,000 worth of Apple Watches. This wasn’t an isolated incident, but endemic to a massive problem in terms of warehouse and cargo theft in the US. Even Canada reported thefts of this nature, i.e., at $27 million in the first half of 2018 alone (with many issues still underreported).
Thus, there’s no doubt that business owners must take warehouse security seriously. Failing to do so would result in both less revenue and direct losses.
In this article, we’ll outline four specific reasons why warehouse security is essential.
Why Is Warehouse Security So Important?
Keeping Employees Safe
Peace of mind from internal theft — and stopping internal threats at large — is essential, but your employees are also your assets. They deserve a safe working environment.
To provide that environment, you should install access control systems and a 24/7 digital video surveillance system. With access controls, you can restrict access to the facility to only staff as well as restrict additional portions in your warehouse to only specific authorized personnel.
This move will help limit internal theft by reducing the number of people with access to assets as well as limit the chance of outside of intruders leaking into your facilities.
With a 24/7 surveillance system, you can deter potential crime by showing a would-be criminal that you are watching them. You can also audit incidents after the fact.
Managing Visitors
A warehouse takes in a stream of trucks every day to fulfill its function. By installing security measures, such as access control and video surveillance, you will also be in a position to better manage these trucks and other outsiders.
First, the benefit of access control is that it restricts what access outside contractors have at your facility. Second, the surveillance system enables you to deter (or if need be, catch) any potential collusion between malicious insiders and outsiders.
On this note, it is a best practice to keep outsiders and warehouse employees separate where possible. For example, the holding area for delivery drivers could be in a different location from where your inventory staff operates. The idea is that you should augment your security systems with processes such as this, to close-off all vulnerabilities.
Also, you might have clients relying on your warehouse. In this case, an integrated and professionally-installed security system will build client trust in your company.
Shielding Assets from Theft or Damage
Be it prevent theft from outside or to deter employee theft, a vital goal of any effective security system is to keep your assets safe. This could include your warehouse’s inventory, equipment, and the facility structure itself.
In addition to thwarting internal theft with video surveillance and access control, you can employ several measures to shield your warehouse from external threats too.
For starters, you can fence the perimeter of your warehouse and, in turn, restrict entrances and exits to the facility with access control measures and on-site security staff.
Moreover, you could also equip every entry point with alarm-based intrusion detection. The moment someone tries breaking-in or tampers with the system, the system will sound-off.
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With a central monitoring station, the alarm system will alert your on-site security staff as well as off-site personnel. In fact, a central monitoring station will also help you deal with false alarms — if an alarm goes off, your managed provider can notify you before escalating the issue. But if the alarm is serious, your provider will notify law-enforcement.
Complying with Regulatory Requirements
Finally, security is also a regulatory requirement in various industries and regions, and that may apply to your warehouses. In Canada, for example, marijuana producers must abide by Health Canada’s regulations, which include specific security requirements.
Failing to abide by controlled substance laws would not only put your warehouse at risk of crime, but it would also land you in hot water with regulators.
Like any commercial security system, you must conduct a professional security audit of your warehouses before investing in security systems.
The right way to approach this would be to consult a professional physical security services company, especially one with experience in transportation and logistics. They have a strong understanding of your threats, vulnerabilities, and security best practices.
Logixx has over 47 years of focused security experience. We’ve provided T&L companies with robust security systems, enabling them to cut cargo theft and other inefficiencies. Call us today to provide maximum protection to your warehouses.