3 minute read
Before & After: The Security Profession & COVID
Before & After:
The Security Profession & COVID
By: Carlton D Smith PPS, PSD, CP
“Well, that is going to leave a mark.” The first time I heard that statement, I was watching the American pastime known as a NASCAR race. For those Circuit readers unfamiliar with it, NASCAR stands for the National Association of Stock Car Automobile Racing, and they host races every year in Daytona, Florida.
The sports announcer was referring to how close the cars were skirting by each other and the likelihood that the near-skirmishes would "leave a mark" on the cars as they brushed up against each other.
Before COVID
In much the same way, the COVID-19 pandemic has definitely left "a mark" on our industry. As practitioners, our responsibilities are manifold: protecting the client from physical harm, protecting the client from self-embarrassment, or protecting sensitive, private information and data from financial loss. These duty-of care scenarios have always been in place for operators and will continue to be. And now that COVID-19 restrictions are starting to be eased in some areas, clients and other high-net-worth individuals will be even more aware of and sensitive of their surroundings.
Before the pandemic hit, it was standard practice for a security detail to conduct a security briefing covering all security aspects of the detail. Be it an “A-list” celebrity or a high-networth executive, the detail had to establish a three-ring layer of security with an outer, middle, and inner protective zone. With this barrier and security level in place, the "P" or principal had a level of protection that was not easily penetrated.
After COVID
And now, in the post- COVID environment, as protectors, we would be best served to operate with the same strict standard of care but with some crucial adjustments despite what the “new normal” may be. Some of these changes will undoubtedly require us to modify how we deal with the general public and workforce. In this regard, understanding the five "W's " (Who, What, When Where, and How) will present a clear advantage for understanding how the post-COVID-19 environment will evolve. For example, some key considerations to reduce COVID-19 risks at major public events would be to have a concert/venue scaled down so that fewer people would be attending an event.
Also, it may involve more pre-planning and logistics work, such as pre-ordering sufficient supplies and materials, including tissues and hand sanitizers for all participants. Or there may also be a requirement to display dispensers of alcohol-based hand rub prominently around the venue. Or even to set up and provide a health care number that participants (workers, fans, etc.) can call for advice and/or report health information.
Our equipment (personally and professionally) also has to be updated with the latest gear to ensure protocols are in place. Post-pandemic, a protector’s medical bag must be expanded. Besides the standard medical equipment (bandages, tape, quick clot, tourniquet, etc.), the medical bag must now be improvised to include a non-contact infrared thermometer and a supply of surgical/cloth masks.
Guideposts, Best Practices, & Common Sense
In deciding which modifications to make, we can turn to major health and safety agencies as guideposts for adhering to best practices. We should also supplement this with our own due diligence and common sense. For instance, in the US, the CDC (Center for Disease Control) has established guidelines and recommendations for businesses and employers to follow. Some of the updated strategies are:
• Conduct daily health checks
• Conduct a health hazard assessment of the space (venue, hotel)
• Implementing policies and practices for social distancing in the venue/ space
Carlton D Smith PPS, PSD, CPO is an executive protection specialist and a law enforcement officer in a major metropolitan area. You can contact him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carlton-smith28519b34
