Security guards provide protection in a variety of different industries and locations. Every business has security threats that they need to guard against to keep their people and property safe, and many can only do so effectively with the assistance of professional highly trained security officers.
Security guard types
Some security guards will do it all, being deployed when and where they are required in pretty much any industry that you can possibly think of. Others hone their craft in one particular sector and specialise in tackling the common threats faced by companies in that area.
Some of the industries where security guards are required the most include:
Construction
Construction is one of the largest security guarding industries in the world, and it isn’t hard to see why. These projects, often based in rural locations are packed full of expensive tools, materials, fuel, and vehicles that are attractive to thieves. The scaffolding used during a construction project also makes the site and appealing, and incredibly dangerous attraction for local youths and trespassers.
In the UK alone, theft and vandalism are worth a whopping 800m to the construction industry and failing to put the appropriate security in place can cost a firm many thousands of pounds and could compromise their entire operation. Security guards will maintain the perimeter, conduct patrols 24/7, monitor CCTV, check IDs, and control access gates to keep your construction site safe and prevent unauthorised individuals from getting inside.
Events
Event security is incredibly important and incredibly high-pressure, with recent terror incidents at concerts and sports events across the world highlighting the need for ultra-tight security anywhere where a large number of people gather in a single space.
Security guards that provide security services for events possess a unique set of skills that they use to protect all attendees at major events, and smaller events such as political rallies where there is a significant chance of disruption.
Just some of the services that event security staff provide include searching visitors as they enter the venue, checking tickets, providing first aid, overseeing any evacuations, deescalating potential flashpoints, and keeping their expert eye across the crowd to spot any suspicious activity.
Schools
Schools, particularly in America but also in many other areas of the world, require some of the strictest security in order to maintain a safe and secure place of learning.
Violence against staff, parent confrontations, and much worse incidents are unfortunately on the rise, and it is critical that security guards are deployed and are capable of maintaining a secure perimeter. Security management is crucial for all schools, and it makes it a lot easier to teach and learn inside if there is a security guard presence.
Hotels
Hotels, by their very nature, have a large number of people coming and going on a daily basis and it can be difficult to keep track of exactly who is inside at any one time.
Having a security guard stationed in reception will help to keep a hotel secure as they use their expert eye to track comings and goings and pick out any suspicious activity from within the crowd.
What many people don’t realise is that security guards can actually also perform a range of concierge duties if they happen to be stationed at a front desk in a hotel or office. When someone enters your hotel for the very first time, you want them to be greeted with a friendly smiling face, and this is exactly what security guards offer. Security guards should be intimidating and deterring to criminals but reassuring to the general public and will be happy to answer questions, give directions, and assist hotel guests in any way they can.
When not in place in the entranceway, security guards can conduct mobile patrols of each floor of your hotel, paying attention to external entry points, ensuing that evacuation routes are kept clear, and identifying any areas of concern.
Retail
You have probably noticed security guards stationed at the front of your local supermarket. Their main role is to deter and detain shoplifters, but this is far from the only benefit of having them in place. Should an emergency occur in store, such as a fire or medical issue, a retail security guard will take control of the situation, keeping everyone out of harm’s way, contacting the emergency services, and working with them once they get to the store.
Their presence also significantly reduces the chance of any workplace violence towards your staff, and anyone that ignores the deterrent will be dealt with swiftly and detained until the police arrive. Retail stores that invest in a security guarding presence often report a noticeable improvement in productivity and decrease in unwanted incidents in their premises.