The Intersection of Facilities & Security

1. (855) 500-0660 CONTACT US  SIGN IN At The Intersection of Facilities & Security Doubling Down on Facility Safety and Risk Mitigation  by Jack Rubinger  Aug 19, 2022 When discussions about facilities safety and security arise, the good news is that both facilities and security teams can and should work closely together. Communications via mobile devices are recommended for both facility and security o몭cials. “On weekends, we have one custodian working and usually one district police o몭cer, and that’s to cover three sites,” said Byron Woods, Dean of Facilities at College of the Sequoias. “If I’m out of town and a police o몭cer responds to a 몭re alarm on one of the campuses and he doesn’t know where the panel is or how to turn it o몭, I can pull up the 몭oor plan on my phone, click on my 몭re alarm panels and it’ll show me exactly where it’s at.” Healthcare Security Professional Martin Green nailed it when he said, “We lock the doors. They 몭x the doors. We’re the eyes and ears for each other. We’re interdependent.” At his hospital, facility and security teams work together almost every day for a variety of reasons. Both teams also train together. “Security sta몭 spend 90% of their day watching other people work. They notice inconsistencies and ways to improve e몭ciency,” said Houston T. DeFoe, Metro Public Safety Investigations. “Security personnel are usually onsite 24 hours per day. If an alarm or issue happens to a facility that does not have onsite security, an engineer For instant access

2. For instant access to FM tips and content Follow us on Linkedin! alarm or issue happens to a facility that does not have onsite security, an engineer typically must drive to the property in the middle of the night or on Christmas morning.”   What can facilities learn from security and vice or versa?  Green’s security team must know the building’s layout, so when they hear a funny noise, they alert facilities, because that’s good for preventive maintenance. “No one knows the property better than a facility engineer,” said DeFoe. “A lot of times, a property manager hires a security 몭rm but cannot explain the need-to-know safety information about the property as thoroughly as an engineer.” At Green’s hospital, front line workers from facilities and security teams don’t meet at each other’s meetings, but management teams do. Either security reports to maintenance or both teams report to the same VP. One example of working together? Green suggested installing a security camera at a new area that’s being renovated.   In the best-case scenarios, security o몭cers are checking 몭re extinguisher dates, pump rooms, locking down elevators or dealing with trapped individuals,” said DeFoe. Facilities teams are typically responsible for maintenance of emergency equipment such as 몭re extinguishers. “It’s absolutely critical that security departments know what’s behind the doors or up above the ceilings,” said Green. One recent trend that’s putting both facility and security teams are ransomware attacks. “Healthcare is getting hit hard via email, spam, and phishing,” said Green. “Technology lives in servers inside the building, so facilities need to be aware of ransomware attacks as building automation systems may be vulnerable,” he added.  Another issue of concern for both sides is workplace violence. “Workplace violence is at an all-time high in healthcare,” said Green. “Healthcare sta몭 are attacked daily, hit, spit, by the public. Violent incidents involving families 몭ghting in waiting rooms are not uncommon. We’re faced with emotionally charged situations, with Covid being a contributing factor.” Both teams need to be aware of these situations and alert each other. DeFoe shared his experience working with a client in an industrial area of Kansas City. The onsite management team for the facility, their security managers, and neighboring

3. businesses all meet with the local police department once a year to discuss crime patterns or concerns.  “A door or gate that needs to be closed after each use can make a big di몭erence,” he said.  “There are many angles that need to be discussed. A facility engineer or manager might know how the property works a certain way, but they need to also consider how or why they may be vulnerable.” He added that a lot of times, the police know nothing about a facility and 몭re departments have limited information so all that information passed o몭 from the facilities team to the security team could really come in handy when no one else is at the property except for security personnel during an event.   Facility and security team checks and balances can make a huge di몭erence whether a facility uses onsite security or a patrol service.  Search * Recent Posts Heights, Heat and Hydration, Survival Tips for FMs It’s Back­To­School Time. Are Your Educational Facilities Ready? There’s no stopping the Lady Bugs!   Steps Challenge Brings Teams Together in Fitness and Health Diana Ortiz Burns Mastering the Art of Productivity, Mentoring, and Facility Management Quick links Product ARC Facilities Corporate O몭ce Solutions About 12657 Alcosta Blvd, Suite 200, San Ramon, CA 94583, USA

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