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| A Primedia Property | |
| October 11, 2005 | Vol. 5. No. 41 |
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Table Of Contents Tackling the turnover issue Safety tips for Fire Prevention Week Security cameras become star witnesses Map thief prompts library security concerns ADVERTISEMENT R90 iCLASS Long Range Reader HID's R90 iCLASS ® Long Range Reader is ideal for installations incorporating parking control and long read range applications packaging all the electronics in one rugged, attractive, and easy-to install housing. Using the 13.56 MHz technology platform, the R90 read-only contactless smart card long range reader combines the longer read range of proximity with the power and heightened security of encryption and mutual authentication, making it ideal for access control applications. Click here for R90 product information News Tackling the turnover issue If there seems to be too much turnover among a company's contract guards, maybe it's because guard services are treated as commodities -- by the customer and by the provider. Customers may use low-cost providers, for example, because they see no difference in security officers from one firm to the next. When guard companies take this same attitude, employees have little reason to stay. Some companies have successfully combated turnover issues. The secret: showing employees that they are valued. Firms such as AlliedBarton Security Services and Old Dominion Security (ODS) in Virginia believe in quality over quantity. "It's more important that we bring in and retain the right people," says Deborah Brantley, vice president of human resources for AlliedBarton. Practices that reduce turnover include: * Higher wages. Hourly wage is often what determines whether an applicant accepts a job. Earning slightly more than minimum wage barely covers expenses; it doesn't develop loyalty. Even an extra ten cents an hour will convince a guard to switch employers. * Competitive benefits. Benefits have a direct impact on a person's ability to care for him- or herself and a family. Meaningful benefits allow employees to concentrate on their jobs. This focus creates a win-win situation for everyone: employees, clients and the company. * Training. Raise employee job satisfaction -- and customer service -- by developing their skills. Every new officer at ODS commits to a 90-day self-paced educational program. The curriculum includes not only assignment-specific training, but also life skills such as problem solving, social interaction, decision-making and financial management. This total-person development continues throughout the employee's tenure. * Career advancement. Employees at AlliedBarton, for example, know that the company rewards hard work with promotions. According to Brantley, 60% of operations managers in the Philadelphia area -- where the company formerly known as SpectaGuard started 25 years ago -- began as guards. Among these is one of four division presidents. Investing in personnel reaps huge returns. At ODS, turnover is only 86 percent, compared to industry averages of 200 to 300 percent. Co-owner Rafe Wilkinson attributes retention to the employee development program, which received the 2005 Employee Development Award (mid-size organization) from the Richmond Human Resources Management Association. "It's gone without question that it works," says Wilkinson, "whether from our officers who feel more professional . . . to our clients, who see the advantages of having an individual on post that is not going through the process, but is building on skills to better themselves." ADVERTISEMENT 
AMAG Technology's XML Developers Kit Provides Effortless CommunicationThe XML Developers Kit is an optional module used with AMAG's security management systems to enable the development of programs that can control and exchange information with the SMS. Employing XML and Web Service technologies, the Developers Kit achieves easy communication between different systems despite programming languages or platforms used. For more information visit www.amag.com. Safety tips for Fire Prevention Week Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 9-15), a national event, was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, which killed more than 250 people and left 100,000 homeless. In observance of Fire Prevention Week, Supreme Security Systems of New Jersey, offers the following 10 residential and commercial fire safety tips. 1. Identify risk factors. It is important to identify the hazards in your environment early on and learn how to avoid them. Some risk factors include electrical shorts and overheating, infrequent maintenance of smoke detectors, careless smoking or unattended candles. 2. Cook with care. Since a fire can start in just seconds, it is absolutely imperative to never leave your cooking unattended. Keep curtains, pot holders, rubber spatulas or other articles that can easily catch on fire away from your stove or elements at all times. If a fire breaks out while cooking, put a lid on the pan to contain it. Never throw water on a grease fire. 3. Give your space heaters some space. The high cost of fuel and utilities have caused many people to turn to portable space heaters to warm up their homes or small businesses this season. Give your portable heaters the space they need by keeping flammable or combustible items very far away. 4. Make sure you know where your fire extinguisher is kept at all times and understand how to use it. If you have several extinguishers, check the operating instructions for each, as they may differ. Also, keep fire extinguishers charged and their inspection tags current. 5. Share responsibility. Many people are unaware as to how their own actions can contribute to the risk of fire. It is extremely important that everyone understands that fire prevention and safety is a shared responsibility that should never be taken lightly. 6. Develop a comprehensive plan. Develop a plan that outlines the necessary steps to take should a fire break out, as well as any special procedures for those who are physically challenged. 7. Provide frequent training. Ensure everyone in your household or office understands the fire safety plan, receives proper and frequent training and is comfortable following the procedures. 8. Identify escape routes. It is important to identify numerous ways to escape your home or facility, so if one area is blocked by the fire, you have alternate routes to escape. 9. Invest in technology. Be sure to invest in smoke detectors, fire alarms and sprinkler systems; these technologies can go a long way in helping to reduce fire losses and ensure the ongoing safety and security of your home or facility. 10. Monitor and test your fire alarm. Monitor and test your fire detection and prevention systems regularly to ensure they work properly and meet any changing needs and requirements. Also, stay abreast of advancements in fire protection technology and continue to invest in these systems as appropriate. For more information on Fire Prevention Week, visit www.firepreventionweek.org ADVERTISEMENT 
now offer turnkey migration from proprietary hardware-based systems Migrate from your NexWatch, Checkpoint, Lenel, and other proprietary systems to an IP Software-based Audio/Video/Access Control System with the most advanced capabilities, highest reliability, and best price/performance in the Security Industry. Complete turnkey migrations are available. For more information, go to www.cardaccess.com. Security cameras become star witnesses This week, a Washington jury watched as a soundless gun battle that happened last winter was replayed on a movie screen in a Fairfax County courtroom. The prosecutor called it "the cherry on top" of his case. It was also an example of what some experts say has become one of the richest sources of crime-scene evidence: surveillance camera footage. "There's more visual evidence at crime scenes today than any other evidence," Grant Fredericks, a former Vancouver police officer and a forensic video analyst with the nonprofit Law Enforcement and Emergency Services Video Association, tells The Washington Post. "We used to count on fingerprints. Now it's security systems." One of the first things detectives now do at a crime scene is conduct a sweep for surveillance video that might have captured the incident or the perpetrator, public and private law enforcement officials say. A video security firm in California estimates that there are now 26 million surveillance cameras in the United States generating more than four billion hours of video every week. "In the absence of any human witness, the video might be your only witness," said Thomas C. Christenberry, a former FBI agent and surveillance video expert at the University of Indianapolis. Security cameras are now such an investigative staple that they have led to the new discipline of forensic video analysis, the art of examining and processing surveillance film. Hundreds of law enforcement agencies across the country now have video analysts, experts say. Some investigations, like Washington's recent two-year serial arson probe, have produced thousands of surveillance tapes with countless hours of footage. The video surveillance industry calls this "data overload," and processing it can be mind-bending -- "the fun part," as one federal agent joked. Jurors watched the 35 stop-action frames of the Washington gun battle. Shortly after, the jury found the defendant guilty of attempted capital murder. "A picture speaks a thousand words," said Deputy Fairfax Commonwealth's Attorney Raymond F. Morrogh, "and a video speaks 10,000." ADVERTISEMENT 
4th eyefortransport North American Cargo Security Forum, 5-6 December Latest Government updates and regulations for cargo security, best practices on compliance, loss prevention strategies. Network with GM, Boeing, Starbucks, P+G, SEKO, Kmart, UPS, CNF and more. Learn about comprehensive programs to reduce exposure to terrorist threat + cargo crime. Download free 2005 Report. Cheap prices until Friday 14th! www.eyefortransport.com/cargosecurity2005 Map thief prompts library security concerns Librarians and curators across the country have been frantically checking their map collections since June, after E. Forbes Smiley III, a 49-year-old antique dealer from Massachusetts, was discovered stealing more than $700,000-worth of rare maps from the Beinecke Library at Yale University. Many prestigious institutions have also found themselves having to answer questions about insufficient security policies and inadequate background checks of dealers and collectors, the University of Chicago newspaper reports. The Boston Public Library and the New York Public Library have reported missing maps and though no one has yet accused Smiley in those cases, traces of his visits are being analyzed for possible clues. The president of Chicago's Newberry Library commented that two maps are missing from his library's collection as well. Since the Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago is home to a number of valuable maps, the security procedures in the Special Collections Department are fairly extensive. Any visitors to the University must register at the Special Collections front desk with two forms of identification before leaving all belongings in a locker room. The stacks are not open, so people must request the material at the front desk and a staff member will bring it up. The reading room, which is the only place where the material may be used, is made of large glass panels, making it easy for the staff to monitor all users. The dilemma for curators and librarians has been highlighted as a result of Smiley's actions. "An incident like this begs us to ask if we are doing enough to protect our collection," Regenstein director of Special Collections Alice Schreyer says. "But ultimately I believe it is important to preserve the balance between enough security and maintaining a welcoming atmosphere." Business Beat
People in the News
Events Oct. 16-19 ICMA 14th Annual Expo Renaissance Eden Roc Resort, Miami Organizer: Intl. Card Manufacturers Assoc. Information: (609) 799-4900 www.icma.com lmccullough@icma.com Oct. 17-18 Oct. 17-19 Oct. 18-20 Oct. 19 October 20 New Announcements from ACCESS CONTROL & SECURITY SYSTEMS Now available on securitysolutions.com: September 2005 The giant ASIS show issue of Access Control & Security Systems, featuring the 2005 Security Director of the Year, Stu Herrington. Coming to AC&SS in October: Fortune 1000 Examining security's role at America's largest companies Coming to securitysolutions.com in November: Industry Calendar 2006 Get ready for next year's big security events |
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