Office Safety

Safeguard all valuables.  Record serial numbers, brand names and descriptions of valuables which are kept in your office.  Small portable items should be kept out of sight.  Keep a record of such valuables and a duplicate list in a safe place.  This should be done for all your personal property as well as company property.

Never leave valuables such as a wallet or purse lying on top of a desk.  Place them in a drawer or somewhere out of sight.  If you are leaving your office or work area for only a few minutes, lock your desk and secure your valuables.

Never carry large sums of money to the office.  Safeguard and protect cash and credit cards at all times.

If you have “coffee fund,” “stamp funds,” etc., keep the containers under lock and key.  If possible, store the money in a safe.

Require identification and authorization from “repairmen” wanting to remove any property, equipment, etc.

All outside service personnel should be accompanied at all times when inside your office areas.

Establish an effective property control program.  Do not loan equipment or office keys without a proper level of authorization and approval.  If keys are lost, replace locks immediately, and report the loss of keys to the proper authority immediately.

Do not tape important keys under desks, to file cabinets, etc.  Ensure proper key control and issuance of all keys to the office.  Restrict keys to persons with proper authorization.

If you are entrusted with a key to an office area, room, storage facility, etc., make sure the door is locked and all contents are secure when you leave.

Avoid letting someone else use your keys unless you go with them, or they have proper authorization for use of the keys.  All office areas not in use should be locked.

When working late and alone, lock all doors, including your office door.  Make sure a phone is nearby. Know the emergency number for the police.

Make sure, at the end of the day, that windows are locked and correctly closed; all property is secured and put in protected storage; all desks and files are locked and protected; all doors are closed and locked; and that any alarms or other security measures have been activated.

Be alert to unknown strangers wandering through building areas.  Report suspicious persons to the police.

Make sure there is proper illumination outside all entrances, and all points of concealment are removed.

Make sure that there is proper illumination inside your office and internal building areas.

If cash is handled in your office area, consider the following:

- Protect cash-handling areas at all times;
- Consider a silent alarm system in the event of robbery;
- If an alarm is installed, ensure proper education in use;
- Keep cash amounts to a minimum;
- Vary routines in making deposits;
- Install a U.L. rated safe, anchored to the floor;
- Keep safe locked at all times;
- Ensure proper barriers for cash-handling areas;
- Make deposits during daylight hours;
- In the event of a robbery, take no action which will at any time jeopardize your personal safety or others.

Ensure office co-workers, as well as those persons in adjacent parts of the building, share a security-minded philosophy.

Try to park as close to building entrances as possible. At night, be sure to park in well-lit locations.

Develop a mutual aid system among your co-workers, and other occupants of the building.  Assist each other in protecting persons and property.

Establish good opening and closing procedures with safety and security in mind.