Security
These are the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the security industry, as shown by injury claims.
Security
These are the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the security industry, as shown by injury claims.
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Injury Hotspot skeleton diagram, text information below.
Hazards
- Hazard 1Emergency situations
- Develop emergency evacuation procedures and communicate to all employees (permanent and casual).
- Provide first aid kits (including kits for remote or isolated locations such as guards in rural areas and for patrol cars). Arrangements should be in place to keep kits regularly stocked.
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.
- 6 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.
- Hazard 2Lifting and twisting
- Provide appropriate mechanical aids and equipment (eg lifting / moving devices for moving large, bulky or awkward objects, height-adjustable trolleys and workstations) and ensure they are used properly and maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications.
- Train employees in the selection and use of any mechanical equipment and aids and safe handling methods (eg that the best working zone is when work is between shoulder and mid-thigh height and where the elbows are close to the body, work upright where possible).
- Provide specific training for work such as moving baggage, handling bundles of coins, and opening roller doors and security doors.
- Ensure employees are not exposed to repetitive work for long periods (eg by using job rotation, work variation, providing sit-stand stools and anti-fatigue mats) or work that requires a significant amount of high force.
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.
- 6 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.
- 10 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons hand / fingers.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.
- Hazard 3Noise
- Ensure employees are not exposed to noise that exceeds the exposure standard.
- Arrange for a noise assessment if employees are exposed to excessive noise (eg workers have to raise their voices to communicate over a distance of one metre) and there is uncertainty as to whether employees exposure may have exceeded the noise exposure standard.
- Eliminate or minimise the source of noise. Use noise insulated equipment (eg silence compressors) and separate workers from noisy activities.
- Place warning signs in areas of excessive and continual noise (eg where employees exposure is likely to exceed the exposure standard).
- Provide hearing equipment, ensure it is worn at all times, and provide employees with audiometric testing. Employers should provide a choice of different types of hearing protection appropriate to the noise level in the workplace.
- Hazard 4Slips trips and falls
- Ensure there is adequate lighting and level surfaces for patrols.
- Only use an appropriate work platform when supervising patrons.
- Ensure employees wear appropriate footwear (eg non-slip).
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.
- 6 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.
- 10 per cent of the injuries were to a persons back.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.
- 9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons leg.
- Hazard 5Work-related stress bullying and harassment
- Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures for workplace bullying and harassment.
- Encourage a positive workplace culture, including reporting of bullying and harassment.
- Ensure all employees understand what bullying and harassment is, and the procedures for reporting incidents (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and workplace bullying prevention or training).
- Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
- Train employees on how to identify and defuse potentially volatile situations.
- Encourage employees to report any workplace stress factors (eg work demand, low control, poor support, lack of role clarity, organisational culture) and control appropriately.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons psychological system.
- Hazard 6Work-related violence
- Ensure appropriate security measures are in place (eg toughened glass, no blind spots, access / egress control, barriers, and no areas where staff can become trapped).
- Ensure the layout of the workplace is set up to minimise injury (eg consider the position of furniture and drop safes).
- Provide appropriate personal protection, including methods to obtain assistance (eg duress alarms, mobile phones, CCTV).
- Develop and implement appropriate policies and procedures (eg exchange of information between shifts and officers, incident notification, appropriate rostering and staffing levels, client assessments).
- Monitor patrons to detect potential offenders for early intervention.
- Ensure all employees understand policies and procedures (eg policies and procedures should be promoted during employee induction and training).
- Provide access and encourage employees to use employee counselling / support services, where possible.
- Train employees on how to identify and defuse potentially volatile situations.
- Encourage employees to report all incidents and provide appropriate incident response and feedback.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons psychological system.
- 9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons face.
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons shoulder.
- 6 per cent of the injuries were to a persons arm.
- 7 per cent of the injuries were to a persons hand / fingers.
- 15 per cent of the injuries were to a persons knee.
- 9 per cent of the injuries were to a persons leg.