fbpx

When considering the fatality rate of members of law enforcement, most do not even bother to think of security guards. Furthermore, these individuals may be at a higher risk for assault and injury than dedicated police officers given their proximity to the environment in which they are paid to keep secure. Other risks include the various demographics they interact with along with the frequency of engaging high tension, engaging situations. A security guard is often hand-picked as the first to respond to violent situations, which places them at the highest risk for death and injuries.

A number of incredible statistics have been produced by Private Officer International over the past 8 years, with assaults and injuries increasing by as much as 17% over the past decade.

Knowing the right manner to de-escalate and handle situations in which there is a probability of violence is key to avoiding fatal outcomes.

There were over 110 deaths reported on duty, and of these, 103 were male, 9 were female. The average age of the deceased was 46 years old, with the youngest at 19. The top three places officers were murdered include nightclubs, retail centers, and residential areas.

  1. Invest In Training

Training for situations occurring in the real world is critical to the survival and skill set of a security guard. Exercises that are scenario-based help prepare you to handle confrontations and, when necessary, step away instead.

Understanding the right warning signs through physical presence, body language, tones, and conditions of an environment helps evaluate situations and subsequently respond. This may not always include direct engagements but rather reaching out to the correct authorities instead.

  1. Learn Techniques For De-Escalation

The establishment of proper verbal queues, along with the ability to talk people down while maintaining a proper distance, is crucial. Non-threatening, soft verbal tones make all the difference between compliance or escalation to a potentially violent shakedown.

  1. Recognize Indication Of Threat

Watching someone with clenched fists displaying an agitated expression carrying an object of some kind in their hand with an aggressive posture are just some of the many examples of potential threats to the security of a site as well as its officer. You need to assess the situation properly, maintain contact and in the event that the individual is non-compliant and non-responsive, attempt to remove yourself to a healthy distance, call the authorities, and secure the area.

  1. Adhere To Protocols

There should always be a shift supervisor at the behest of security guards. Furthermore, a protocol should be in place for checking and calling in on potentially high-risk, secluded, off-hour, or solo posts. Safety is paramount, and understanding the whereabouts of all officers should be held at the highest priority.

  1. Use Technology

GPS tracking, live reporting, and mandatory check-in points serve to protect officers through the provision of additional safeguards and allow total transparency from the client to the employer.