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Security Guard Duties – Controlling Access and Egress (Part 1)

Security Guard Duties - Controlling Access and Egress (Part 1)

Atlanta, GA – This is the first of a four-part series on Physical Security Measures for Atlanta companies.

  • Week 1 – Why Control Access & Egress and Personnel Control
  • Week 2 – Property Control
  • Week 3 – Vehicle Control
  • Week 4 – Lock & Key Control

A key duty of a security guard is to control the access and egress to a facility or area.  The purpose of controlling access and egress is to ensure that only authorized personnel, vehicles, and materials are allowed to enter, move within, and leave the facility. This provides protection for all personnel, property within, and the facility itself. Through their presence and professional performance of duties, Security Officers will discourage, detect, and detain potential violators. People associated with criminals/criminal activity tend to avoid facilities and/or areas where there are professional Security Officers on site.

Why Control Access and Egress?

The Security Guard’s duty is to protect the people who work in and visit client-owned or controlled facilities and the property it contains. Effective access and egress control will prevent personnel or material with the potential to cause damage from gaining entry into the facility. It will also prevent personnel from leaving the facility with equipment/materials not authorized to be taken out.

How Can Egress Be Controlled?

Access and egress are controlled by Security Officers and physical equipment such as locks, intrusion alarms, and the appropriate sign-in/out logs. Security measures will vary according to the area/location and type of facility. Some buildings will have the potential to be a greater target than others based on the occupants of the facility. Levels of access/egress control will be set accordingly. In all cases, the security guard is the primary deterrent.

Personnel Control

Several categories of personnel will require access to and be permitted egress from secured facilities. These include employees, contractors, emergency personnel and visitors. Post Orders should be developed to facilitate a smooth operation for all personnel concerned, whether entering or departing.  The procedures in place for the facility should present a feeling of “safety” and “security” as well as discourage potential unauthorized personnel from attempting entry.

Managing Building Entry

There are several procedures for managing entry to a building or area. Open access and egress is used for buildings or some internal areas where there is no need for control, and people may come and go as they please. In areas where access control is needed, there are several procedures established according to location, such as:

  • Presentation of valid approved photographic identification.
  • An agency-provided access list with names of personnel authorized entry used in conjunction with valid photo identification.
  • Personnel allowed access with the proper photo identification with an agency sponsor/escort required for entry.
  • Personnel who have been issued “key cards” to access locked doors, turnstiles, or other protected/secured areas.

Screen All Visitors

Facilities should have 100% screening for all visitors. Some higher threat locations will require personnel to walk through the magnetometer and all possessions to be processed through an x-ray machine. The machines are not for harassment but for safety. Designed to detect the possible presence of weapons, incendiary devices, or other prohibited items/material. The security guard will also visually check other items such as laptop computers and cellular telephones.

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Respect Cultural Differences

During the screening process, it is important that security officers be familiar with the beliefs and customs of different cultures/religions. Visitors to the facility may be dressed in cultural or religious garments and/or be in possession of religious articles.

The following considerations will be afforded while conducting a search of someone wearing or carrying cultural or religious articles:

  • Show respect to all variations of faith during inspections.
  • Explain why you need to conduct a security search.
  • If possible, a guard of the same gender should conduct searches.
  • If necessary and available, offer a private room to conduct the search.

A culturally aware security guard may prevent embarrassing situations and portray the client in a positive light.

Remain Calm If Alarm Goes Off

In the event an individual sets off the alarm walking through the magnetometer, the security guard will first ensure he/she has removed all metal objects from their person.  They will then instruct the person to walk through again. If the alarm sounds again, the security guard will use a hand-held wand, if available,e to pinpoint the location of the metal material.

Refuse Entry As Needed

Once the normal control procedures for employees or visitors have been met, the security guard may allow entry into the facility. Visitors may have to be issued visitor’s passes and/or escorted. If someone refuses to comply with the established procedures for entry into a facility, they must not be allowed access.

Remote Monitoring

Remote Monitoring or VirtuGuard™ is an interactive remote monitoring service offered by BOS Security. From our Command Centers, headquartered in Athens, Georgia, VirtuGuard™ Agents have access to live video streams and recorded video from your locations through security cameras and other infrastructure installed on your property. This security infrastructure combined with the use of AI (Artificial Intelligence) technologies, alerts Agents in our command centers to activity/events as they occur, in near real-time. The Command Center Team then reacts accordingly to your site-specific protocols.

Additionally, VirtuGuard™ services can replace or most certainly supplement onsite security officers by responding to AI created events or by being proactive and conducting scheduled or random virtual remote video patrols of the property and people on site. Learn more about our VirtuGuard™ service here

Contact BOS Security

If you’re considering adding security officers to your security strategy, contact us today at 404-793-6965 to schedule a free Security Needs Assessment today.

Click here for next week’s installment on: Property Control

RELATED POSTS: What Does a Security Guard Cost? |  Security Guards in Atlanta: Get what you pay for  

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