Feature
Front Line Guarding Staff Risks Remain
– Despite Lockdown Easing
As previously closed facilities prepare to reopen post- lockdown Richard Jenkins, Chief Executive of the National Security Inspectorate (NSI), warns that out- sourced security staffing requires careful management in the interests of safety and security of assets.
The Covid-19 pandemic prompted a successful cross-industry call in spring 2020 for frontline security and fire safety staff to be classified as Key Workers, reflecting their vital work in protecting a varied range of premises. Over the past 12 months this has included the security of empty or closed commercial, retail and office sites, which are now preparing to reopen their doors as lockdown restrictions are eased in stages across the four nations.
Along with other buyers of security guarding and events management services, facilities managers face tangible risks from the common use of bought-in labour amongst security contractors/sub-contractors. This practice, widely used to support service delivery, provides companies with the flexibility to scale their operations effectively and works well when professionally managed.
However when flexible labour is poorly managed potential risks arise: risks to the safety and security of the public from suspect integrity of the supply chain and unwelcome scope for worker exploitation. For buyers of security services, such as FMs, the risks bring the potential additional consequence of reputational damage. These risks can manifest themselves in the absence of adequate controls regarding: SIA (Security Industry Authority) licensing; security screening to BS 7858; adherence to Working Time Regulations; the paying of minimum wage; and checks on identity, right to work and employment status.
Addressing The Issues
NSI – a UKAS accredited Certification Body in the guarding services market – approves organisations against British standards to ensure they operate accordingly. It has taken action to redress these risks by developing a Code of Practice and an approval scheme to protect buyers and provide guarding and event management contractors/sub- contractors with an out-of-the-box tool to demonstrate supply chain integrity. It addresses the need for ‘end-to-end’ oversight and provides FM buyers with confidence in their main security or events management contractor, including its labour supply chain.
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