Introduction
Security is a vital function of fostering an appropriate environment conducive for development and growth. In the wake of growing security concern at national and international levels, it has become imperative for all the establishments including industrial entities to upgrade and modernize the security systems for effectively meeting the growing challenges.
Security is not any more regarded as peripheral function entailing additional expenditure to the organization but is considered as a critical and integral part of the organization for the prevention of loss that the organization might suffer in absence of effective security system. This is contrast departure from traditional approach which management uses to have only few years back. Any forward looking management with sincere concern for the security of plant and personnel has either changed their approach or is in the process of changing it with the understanding that security is no more side function but it is main line function with bearing on organization’s productivity and profitability.
It is imperative for security professionals to understand the principal of operation, application and constraints of security so that they could provide effective security environment in an organization. Security In-charges perform not only line duty but also staff duty, in that, they work as an Advisor to the top management on all matters relating to security administration. It is, therefore, essential that all the Security In-charges share the vision and aspirations of the management and be part of the management’s perception of security. They are also instrumental in remodeling the security plans and giving new directions to the management’s approach to security measures.
Sound Security Philosophy
All the security measures undertaken in any industrial entities are aimed towards ensuring continuity of production and related business activities. Management’s focus is always to ensure that nothing should happen which would be harmful to person, property and plants, which affect adversely the organization’s productivity and profitability. That is why security must be capable of evaluating the present security measures vis-Ã -vis threat perception. The security measures must be adaptable to the changes taking place in context of social, industrial and economical trends.
Effective security system must have four interacting elements as given below:
• Delay
• Detect
• Deter or alert, and
• Respond
So much so that at times measures for delay also work as measures to detect or deter. The best possibility is that one singular security measure is capable to perform the functions of not only deterring and delaying but also detecting the potential wrong doer, giving sufficient time to the first responder to muster all the resources and manpower to counter any attempt on breach on security.
Security is integrated function
It is matter of past that security function was related to un-important side function which was thought to be consuming organization’s financial resources without being profit generating activities. The security was considered a function which worked in isolation and often was reduced to ceremonial activities and was considered to re-active rather than pro-active.
With the advent of open economy, global approach and industrialization, the management now-a-days not only considers the “cost of security” but also considers” not having the security”. It is very emphatically realized that security function is a main line function and has become an integrated function by which most of its inputs are received from other functions and most of its outputs are treated as input for other departments such as Fire and Safety realize upon Security on reports on conditions of water hydrants, hose pipe, nozzles etc. placed all over the plant along with basic fire fighting equipments. Similarly, Production Department rely upon the observations of the plant area through security gadgets all personnel surveillance to ensure that the production units are in healthy conditions.
Following few are the illustrations about integrated approach towards security department:
• Security functions are performed more or less by all the departments
• Fire & safety, production and operation & maintenance functions are directly linked with the security functions
• Stores & purchase, marketing and product development have security bearings
Direct link with productivity
The industrial security as an integrated function of the management in India is a very recent concept. It is now only that work-managers in the industries started treating this function as an important function directly related with the productivity and profitability.
Present management considers that security aptitude is directly related to the individual’s attitude towards life. No one intentionally have accidents, no one consciously exposes himself to danger and similarly no one is expected to deliberately indulge in unsafe practice or act in a manner compromising the security measures. It is for that reasons only that all the employees in industries highly vulnerable towards fire are non-smokers. Though security practices discourage them bringing smoking material inside. They also on their own become concerned about their un-safety and security and therefore change their habits and encourage others discouraging them towards smoking. This type of community feeling and sense of responsibility become additional impetus to security consciousness. In short security is everybody’s concern.
Present law and order situation has forced every industry not to rely upon law enforcing agencies but to have their own dependable security plans and personnel. Every employee’s participation in ensuring security consciousness is a matter of apprehension by the management. However, it is also the management’s duty to ensure the speedy and exemplary punishment to those who are found responsible for breach of security measures. After all, it is a matter of life of other innocent employees and family members or people at large which is endangered by such breach of security.
Security is everybody’s concern
Security needs today are much more complicated in view of the growing impact of latest information technology, high-tech communication systems and fast change and growth. If not today, in future, people need to adopt an in-built security system in their personal lives. Present law-and-order situation has forced every industry to have their own security plans.
These industries are no more fully dependent on law enforcing agencies which are short of resources and at times short of manpower. Any breach of security which affects the industries affects it employees also. This realization is very sharply noticed in the employees working in hazardous industries. It must be also realized that even when the security is the primary job of the security professionals, it must be remembered that they have their limitations too!
Any breach of security jeopardizes the life of all the persons in the vicinity; therefore, it must become the prime concern of everybody.
Security is way of life
Every parent teaches their children to walk safely and play safely as they ensure their children play and run or cycle in a way in exposing themselves or others to danger. Slowly, children themselves develop security consciousness and graduate to driving safely. Thus, security is way of life, as in our life we learn to live safely and securely, we also bring this attitude and aptitude to our work place also. No one would like to expose himself or others to in danger; similarly they also do not appreciate or encourage others to expose them in similar situation. Security staff though is charged upon the basic duties to ensure security of work place, their job is made easier by the employees who believe that security is way of life.
Changes in Security
From the stage when security meant a chaukidar, it has reached the stage when it is highly technical, and, skilled manpower is required for manning and staffing the security department. It is now a high-tech field where engineers who know the computer - software and hardware, will only succeed.
As industrial development is taking place faster than expectations, threats to the industries are also increasing. The ways and means available to miscreants have also been upgraded as it means security professionals to change in their reaction accordingly. They are expected to become pro-active. Perpetual preparedness is the need of the hour. They are required to appreciate their roles and responsibility clearly and perform their assigned task suitably. They must also abreast with latest development in the filed of security systems and upgrade their professional skills. Therefore, they must recommend state of art technologies and gadgets for effective security measures in the light of fast changing “attack methodology” by anti-social elements.
Security is management function
It is the duty of management to protect the personnel and property of the installations by having necessary security infrastructure. It is erroneous impression that security is responsibility of security officers and not the management. Security officer is to advise the management on security matters and implement their directives and instructions.
Security & System Design at Blue Print Stage
It has been noticed that many industries are set up with huge investment which do not offer conducive work environment or safety and security of personnel, raw material and the finished products. As a result, more expenditure is incurred on installing effective security measures at a later stage when either heavy loss has incurred or the organization’s reputation has been irreparably damaged. It is also observed that at later stage a design or lay out fault caused heavy expenditure for effective security arrangements. Forward looking management paces an integrated approach and ensures that security is inherent strength of any industry. For this management ensures that all their industrial ventures are secured by design and planning. Security surveys, threat evaluation, risk assessment etc. are such tools to not only find out the potential causes of the approach of security but also to find out the effective remedies. It is encouraged by modern broad minded management that architect, project director and the security in charge interact with each other right from the blue print stage till successful commissioning of the project.
There should be a constant dialogue between architect and security expert right from the beginning. Advantage of this approach is that there is in-built security consciousness and there is no major alteration or modification at later stage involving huge expenditure
Security to be Cost Effective
Though no expenditure is considered too high while considering security of personnel, management would always prefer the options which are not only highly effective but also involve less expenditure. Overly Jealous approach to curtail expenditure should not result into situations when security measures become ineffective. Management would be willing to allocate budget only to such proposal which not only indicate the effectiveness of the security measures proposed but also prove to be incurring the least possible expenditure. Management would also examine that designed security systems match with the threat perception. If threat perceptions are not based on sound research supported with facts then exaggeration may creep in causing in desirable high expenditure.
Cost Effectiveness in the parlance of Industrial Security Management is the situation where by the highest security standards can be maintained by spending lowest possible amount after which there can be no further decrease of money or man power without affecting the security preparedness adversely.
Sound Management Practices
It is imperative that security management is based on well worked out plans, procedures and preparedness. This state can only be achieved by observing following:
• Upgrading knowledge & skill
• Continuous training & sensitization
• Upgrading security systems & gadgets
• Updating security plans & programs
• Enforcing directives from Govt. & other agencies
• Increasing sensitivity towards security needs
Conclusion
Management now days consider security as main line functions and understand that it is integral part of productivity and profitability of the organization. Management is also actually aware of requirement of providing adequate budget to the security needs. It is also expectation of the management from the employees that they remain security conscious, alert and pro-active to security requirements and treat security as their primary concern if not primary role. Many industrial disasters are testimony that only those organizations could come back to business which had sound management practices related to security and safety. After all, “War decides not who is right… but who is left!”
All security personnel are required to ask three questions to themselves and find the answers for their own self satisfaction and also for their justification of their existence in the organization : (i) Why are we here? (ii) Are we meeting expectations? Are we in control or controlled by environment? While answering first question i.e. (i) Why are we here – all security personnel need to understand their role clearly and take suitable action.
While finding the answers of above three questions, they have to address themselves as to whether they are up to date. So far as knowledge and technology is concerned, it has to be of international standard.
Security is way of life and basically depends upon right attitude and aptitude, but consciousness is to originate and spread further from each and every employee. As Goethe has once said “Let everyone sweep their door steps and world will be the cleaner place.
Security is a vital function of fostering an appropriate environment conducive for development and growth. In the wake of growing security concern at national and international levels, it has become imperative for all the establishments including industrial entities to upgrade and modernize the security systems for effectively meeting the growing challenges.
Security is not any more regarded as peripheral function entailing additional expenditure to the organization but is considered as a critical and integral part of the organization for the prevention of loss that the organization might suffer in absence of effective security system. This is contrast departure from traditional approach which management uses to have only few years back. Any forward looking management with sincere concern for the security of plant and personnel has either changed their approach or is in the process of changing it with the understanding that security is no more side function but it is main line function with bearing on organization’s productivity and profitability.
It is imperative for security professionals to understand the principal of operation, application and constraints of security so that they could provide effective security environment in an organization. Security In-charges perform not only line duty but also staff duty, in that, they work as an Advisor to the top management on all matters relating to security administration. It is, therefore, essential that all the Security In-charges share the vision and aspirations of the management and be part of the management’s perception of security. They are also instrumental in remodeling the security plans and giving new directions to the management’s approach to security measures.
Sound Security Philosophy
All the security measures undertaken in any industrial entities are aimed towards ensuring continuity of production and related business activities. Management’s focus is always to ensure that nothing should happen which would be harmful to person, property and plants, which affect adversely the organization’s productivity and profitability. That is why security must be capable of evaluating the present security measures vis-Ã -vis threat perception. The security measures must be adaptable to the changes taking place in context of social, industrial and economical trends.
Effective security system must have four interacting elements as given below:
• Delay
• Detect
• Deter or alert, and
• Respond
So much so that at times measures for delay also work as measures to detect or deter. The best possibility is that one singular security measure is capable to perform the functions of not only deterring and delaying but also detecting the potential wrong doer, giving sufficient time to the first responder to muster all the resources and manpower to counter any attempt on breach on security.
Security is integrated function
It is matter of past that security function was related to un-important side function which was thought to be consuming organization’s financial resources without being profit generating activities. The security was considered a function which worked in isolation and often was reduced to ceremonial activities and was considered to re-active rather than pro-active.
With the advent of open economy, global approach and industrialization, the management now-a-days not only considers the “cost of security” but also considers” not having the security”. It is very emphatically realized that security function is a main line function and has become an integrated function by which most of its inputs are received from other functions and most of its outputs are treated as input for other departments such as Fire and Safety realize upon Security on reports on conditions of water hydrants, hose pipe, nozzles etc. placed all over the plant along with basic fire fighting equipments. Similarly, Production Department rely upon the observations of the plant area through security gadgets all personnel surveillance to ensure that the production units are in healthy conditions.
Following few are the illustrations about integrated approach towards security department:
• Security functions are performed more or less by all the departments
• Fire & safety, production and operation & maintenance functions are directly linked with the security functions
• Stores & purchase, marketing and product development have security bearings
Direct link with productivity
The industrial security as an integrated function of the management in India is a very recent concept. It is now only that work-managers in the industries started treating this function as an important function directly related with the productivity and profitability.
Present management considers that security aptitude is directly related to the individual’s attitude towards life. No one intentionally have accidents, no one consciously exposes himself to danger and similarly no one is expected to deliberately indulge in unsafe practice or act in a manner compromising the security measures. It is for that reasons only that all the employees in industries highly vulnerable towards fire are non-smokers. Though security practices discourage them bringing smoking material inside. They also on their own become concerned about their un-safety and security and therefore change their habits and encourage others discouraging them towards smoking. This type of community feeling and sense of responsibility become additional impetus to security consciousness. In short security is everybody’s concern.
Present law and order situation has forced every industry not to rely upon law enforcing agencies but to have their own dependable security plans and personnel. Every employee’s participation in ensuring security consciousness is a matter of apprehension by the management. However, it is also the management’s duty to ensure the speedy and exemplary punishment to those who are found responsible for breach of security measures. After all, it is a matter of life of other innocent employees and family members or people at large which is endangered by such breach of security.
Security is everybody’s concern
Security needs today are much more complicated in view of the growing impact of latest information technology, high-tech communication systems and fast change and growth. If not today, in future, people need to adopt an in-built security system in their personal lives. Present law-and-order situation has forced every industry to have their own security plans.
These industries are no more fully dependent on law enforcing agencies which are short of resources and at times short of manpower. Any breach of security which affects the industries affects it employees also. This realization is very sharply noticed in the employees working in hazardous industries. It must be also realized that even when the security is the primary job of the security professionals, it must be remembered that they have their limitations too!
Any breach of security jeopardizes the life of all the persons in the vicinity; therefore, it must become the prime concern of everybody.
Security is way of life
Every parent teaches their children to walk safely and play safely as they ensure their children play and run or cycle in a way in exposing themselves or others to danger. Slowly, children themselves develop security consciousness and graduate to driving safely. Thus, security is way of life, as in our life we learn to live safely and securely, we also bring this attitude and aptitude to our work place also. No one would like to expose himself or others to in danger; similarly they also do not appreciate or encourage others to expose them in similar situation. Security staff though is charged upon the basic duties to ensure security of work place, their job is made easier by the employees who believe that security is way of life.
Changes in Security
From the stage when security meant a chaukidar, it has reached the stage when it is highly technical, and, skilled manpower is required for manning and staffing the security department. It is now a high-tech field where engineers who know the computer - software and hardware, will only succeed.
As industrial development is taking place faster than expectations, threats to the industries are also increasing. The ways and means available to miscreants have also been upgraded as it means security professionals to change in their reaction accordingly. They are expected to become pro-active. Perpetual preparedness is the need of the hour. They are required to appreciate their roles and responsibility clearly and perform their assigned task suitably. They must also abreast with latest development in the filed of security systems and upgrade their professional skills. Therefore, they must recommend state of art technologies and gadgets for effective security measures in the light of fast changing “attack methodology” by anti-social elements.
Security is management function
It is the duty of management to protect the personnel and property of the installations by having necessary security infrastructure. It is erroneous impression that security is responsibility of security officers and not the management. Security officer is to advise the management on security matters and implement their directives and instructions.
Security & System Design at Blue Print Stage
It has been noticed that many industries are set up with huge investment which do not offer conducive work environment or safety and security of personnel, raw material and the finished products. As a result, more expenditure is incurred on installing effective security measures at a later stage when either heavy loss has incurred or the organization’s reputation has been irreparably damaged. It is also observed that at later stage a design or lay out fault caused heavy expenditure for effective security arrangements. Forward looking management paces an integrated approach and ensures that security is inherent strength of any industry. For this management ensures that all their industrial ventures are secured by design and planning. Security surveys, threat evaluation, risk assessment etc. are such tools to not only find out the potential causes of the approach of security but also to find out the effective remedies. It is encouraged by modern broad minded management that architect, project director and the security in charge interact with each other right from the blue print stage till successful commissioning of the project.
There should be a constant dialogue between architect and security expert right from the beginning. Advantage of this approach is that there is in-built security consciousness and there is no major alteration or modification at later stage involving huge expenditure
Security to be Cost Effective
Though no expenditure is considered too high while considering security of personnel, management would always prefer the options which are not only highly effective but also involve less expenditure. Overly Jealous approach to curtail expenditure should not result into situations when security measures become ineffective. Management would be willing to allocate budget only to such proposal which not only indicate the effectiveness of the security measures proposed but also prove to be incurring the least possible expenditure. Management would also examine that designed security systems match with the threat perception. If threat perceptions are not based on sound research supported with facts then exaggeration may creep in causing in desirable high expenditure.
Cost Effectiveness in the parlance of Industrial Security Management is the situation where by the highest security standards can be maintained by spending lowest possible amount after which there can be no further decrease of money or man power without affecting the security preparedness adversely.
Sound Management Practices
It is imperative that security management is based on well worked out plans, procedures and preparedness. This state can only be achieved by observing following:
• Upgrading knowledge & skill
• Continuous training & sensitization
• Upgrading security systems & gadgets
• Updating security plans & programs
• Enforcing directives from Govt. & other agencies
• Increasing sensitivity towards security needs
Conclusion
Management now days consider security as main line functions and understand that it is integral part of productivity and profitability of the organization. Management is also actually aware of requirement of providing adequate budget to the security needs. It is also expectation of the management from the employees that they remain security conscious, alert and pro-active to security requirements and treat security as their primary concern if not primary role. Many industrial disasters are testimony that only those organizations could come back to business which had sound management practices related to security and safety. After all, “War decides not who is right… but who is left!”
All security personnel are required to ask three questions to themselves and find the answers for their own self satisfaction and also for their justification of their existence in the organization : (i) Why are we here? (ii) Are we meeting expectations? Are we in control or controlled by environment? While answering first question i.e. (i) Why are we here – all security personnel need to understand their role clearly and take suitable action.
While finding the answers of above three questions, they have to address themselves as to whether they are up to date. So far as knowledge and technology is concerned, it has to be of international standard.
Security is way of life and basically depends upon right attitude and aptitude, but consciousness is to originate and spread further from each and every employee. As Goethe has once said “Let everyone sweep their door steps and world will be the cleaner place.
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