Risks and Tips for Security Guard Safety

What is Security Guard Safety?

Security guard safety refers to the different practices and guidelines needed for security guards to stay safe at work. Security guards play a very important role in keeping people and places safe, whoever and wherever they are. To do their job well, it’s equally important that they stay safe themselves—through proper training, protective equipment, and clear safety protocols that help guard them against physical, environmental, and operational risks while they work to protect others. 

Common Risks 

Security guards play a critical role in maintaining physical security, and by working alone, it often exposes them to more heightened risks. A mixture of isolation and unpredictable environments can make them more vulnerable to different levels of threats. Without immediate support or backup, these challenges can be more intense and life-threatening. 

Common risks security guards often face include the following:

• Violence and harassment: Security guards need to remain on high alert especially when alone, as they often face long, stressful shifts that heighten the risk of internal conflict, violence, or workplace harassment.

• Extreme temperatures: By nature of their occupation, security guards face an increased risk of exposure to extreme weather conditions both in heat and cold, both of which can pose serious health risks that may hinder them from performing their job effectively.

• Mental and emotional stress: Lone security guards often endure irregular shifts while being vigilant, and navigate dangerous situations that can lead to burnout or anxiety, impacting overall well-being.

• Theft and criminal targeting: Security guards risk being overpowered more easily during theft, break-ins, or hostile confrontations due to appearing as easier targets for criminals when working alone. 

• Limited situational awareness: When alone, security guards may struggle to monitor all directions or cover large premises effectively, increasing the likelihood of security breaches.

Safety Regulations

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), security guards experience about the same rate of nonfatal injuries comparable to other fields, but the fatality rate is more than double the average worker’s. Fatal injuries are often due to assaults, while nonfatal injuries often come from falls or violent encounters on the job. Similarly, the BLS also found that the majority of these assaults happen during night shifts between the hours of 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. and are a major source of deadly injuries, if unattended. That’s why certain regulations are in place in order to protect these lone workers and make their already dangerous jobs less so. 

To help ensure security guard safety, different regions have created different guiding safety regulations for implementation. For example, in the US, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) created a rule mandating employers to provide their security employees safe working conditions, proper safety gear, and necessary training. The Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) under OSHA supplements this by ensuring security guards have access to a Safety Data Sheets containing and stating any hazardous chemicals they may encounter on the job, complete with proper labeling and training on safe handling practices.

These regulations emphasize that safety is a shared responsibility between security guard employers whose responsibility it is to provide the training and tools, and their employees who apply vigilance and discipline on the job.

5 Tips for Security Guard Safety

Staying safe while being in charge of everyone’s safety is a tough and challenging job to do for security guards—more so when they’re alone. With that, here are some safety tips for security guards that can be the difference between life and death:

• Ensure awareness at all times: Make sure security guards are of sound mind at work and are able to easily monitor people, vehicles, and objects, as they should watch for anything unusual or suspicious that could signal trouble. 

• Keep calm and composed during emergencies: In times of danger, security guards should be able to think clearly and quickly, make rational decisions, and give concise instructions to prevent panic.

• Follow security protocols: Regardless of shift times and locations, security guards should be aware of communication routines, emergency plans, and safety procedures, and know how to implement them for effective evacuation if needed. 

• Note the hazardous areas within the perimeter: Security guards must know when to adjust their approach with hazardous areas like parking garages, stairwells, or construction zones—ideally with a digital documentation solution—in order to minimize danger.

• Know how gears and equipment work: Before being deployed, security guards must understand how to properly operate and maintain their safety tools such as radios, flashlights, protective gear, and firearms to ascertain their working condition. 

How Technology Improves Safety for Security Guards 

Security guard safety is about being proactive and ensuring guards can stay alert at all times for potential hazards, assessing risks before they develop. One way to ensure this is by using and providing the right technology and gear for worker safety. 

Incorporating technology into your safety policies creates a sturdy safety net for security guards, giving them the confidence and focus to carry out their duties without the constant worry of external risks. As they tend to often work in isolation, it would be best to utilize a lone working tool accessible online and offline so you can always keep track of their movement and safety.

An effective lone worker solution for security guards should include the following key features:

• Incident and Hazard Reporting: Help security guards easily report incidents, hazards, and near misses with photos, video, and precise location tags, then auto‑notify the right people immediately.

• Wearable Bluetooth Devices: Utilize wearable Bluetooth devices like the Flic2 Smart Button for your security guards to enable them to send discreet, quick emergency alerts within a 10-meter range of their smartphone.

• Panic and Duress Button: Teach security guards how to use and activate discreet panic buttons and alarms anywhere to immediately alert responders and send for assistance when doing routine rounds.

• Automated Safety Check-Ins: Schedule mandatory reporting for your security guards with automatic alerts for missed check-ins to ensure lone workers receive assistance quickly and effectively.