Security: Whose Job Is It?

Jul 1, 2008 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson, Editor

I just came across an item about how a private trash service company is training its employees — including drivers and route managers — to be on the lookout for suspicious activity as they travel through a northern Colorado community on their appointed routes. According to a press report, these trash guys are watching for anything out of the ordinary, such as signs of fire or “people who exhibit signs of emotional distress.”

At first pass, it seems to be a matter of cross-training to the extreme: Do we really want the trash man doing double duty as a security professional? Maybe we do.

The program from Waste Management Inc. is called “Waste Watch,” a community-based safety program developed by the company's corporate security services. It involves a special training session for employees conducted by a retired FBI agent/consultant and representatives from the local sheriff's departments.

This magazine published a related article several years ago about how a janitorial service promotes the security benefits of having its employees be attentive to unusual or suspicious activity as they clean the building at night (“Janitors Against Terrorism,” February 2005 issue, available at securitysolutions.com).

These instances of “mission creep” can serve to remind us again of the benefits to security of everyone keeping their eyes and ears open. In one sense, every employee at a company is — or should be — a member of the security team, especially if they are attentive to what is happening around them and vigilant in reporting if anything is haywire. Security should be everyone's job — even the trash man and the janitor.

(And maybe security should pay attention if that trash can in the break room is overflowing.)

We welcome your feedback:
E-mail landerson@securitysolutions.com

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