Personnel with Security Duties.

This month at Seebald & Associates the focus is on Facility Personnel with Security Duties (PSDs). This Thursday we will host our monthly Webinar on PSDs – we hope you’ll join us.

Your facility’s PSDs can be one of the major shortfalls in your security regime. In fact, we’ve seen PSDs as the greatest compliance risk over the course of dozens of recent facility security audits. There can be many reasons for subpar performance, for example, substandard or no training, weak management or leadership, or insufficient funding to hire and retain competent PSDs. This blog talks about investing in reliable PSDs.

Funding for security personnel is an easy target for budget cuts because money managers don’t understand regulatory security compliance risk. That is, a PSD failure can lead to enforcement action that can result in the Coast Guard Captain of the Port’s direction to cease operations or assess significant monetary fines. Unfortunately, many facilities cut security costs first because senior facility decision makers do not realize that PSD investments can have high returns in mitigating compliance risk.

Cutting security costs by choosing the lowest bidder among security companies often results in a “race to the bottom” toward low PSD reliability. There are some exceptions to this rule, but regardless it usually means that your facility has to invest in training and FSO time (conducting FSO reviews, drills and exercises) to ensure PSDs are operating at peak performance and in compliance.

What can you do? First, understand your PSD contract. Know what the security company is responsible for, and hold them accountable for their performance. Many security contracts indemnify the security provider from liability when their substandard performance results in an enforcement action – does yours? We’ve also discovered that poorly performing security companies provide uncertified training to their personnel – what kind of training do your PSDs receive? Are there contract requirements calling for certified training?

The bottom line is that you get what you pay for. The best performing security companies usually invest in the best training for their personnel and pay their personnel wages that attract and retain the best security guards available. These reliable PSDs are a significant deterrent to nefarious activity, and an excellent confidence booster for your Coast Guard inspector.

Look for more blogs on PSDs coming your way. In the meantime, remember to register and participate in our PSD-focused Webinar on Thursday – we look forward to seeing you there!