2 questions Workplace security

Industrial security is concerned with protecting the manufacturing process. Major threats to industrial

security include accidents, natural disasters, internal theft, sabotage, and espionage.

Library and museum security is concerned with controlling both criminal and noncriminal threats to

library and museum inventories which often include rare, priceless, and irreplaceable objects. Common

threats to library and museum security include theft, vandalism fire, floods, water damage, and other

environmental elements.

Office building security is concerned with securing office buildings. Major threats to office building

security include fire, inadequate evacuation routes, terroristic activity, bomb threats, theft, burglary,

robbery, sexual assault, and executive kidnapping. In addition to the aforementioned major threats,

office buildings, because of their open access (i.e., numerous entry and exit points, multiple agencies

occupied one building, and shared common areas such as lounges and restrooms) and highly desired

equipment and supplies (e.g., copper piping, recyclable materials, office supplies, payroll checks,

classified information, office equipment, etc.), provide additional functionality threats to security that

must be addressed by security personnel.

Residential security is concerned with securing personal residences. For security experts the home is

considered a very unsafe place especially when residents are asleep. Threats to residential security

include accidents, medical emergencies, fire, theft, burglary, vandalism, assault, homicide, property

damage, personal injury, and natural disasters.

Retail loss prevention is an area of security that is primarily focused on the retail industry. Internal and

external thefts are the major source of loss for the retail industry. Internal theft usually occurs at the

hands of employees who take cash and/or merchandise, abuse the referral system, and utilize a variety

of other tactics. External sources of loss include vandalism, burglary, robbery, credit card fraud, coupon

fraud, bad checks, and shoplifting. Technological advances create unique challenges for the retail

industry as retail sales are conducted in facilities and wirelessly from home computers, mobile phones,

tablets and other devices. As a result, card-not-present fraud is an increasing concern for retailers as it

results in fraud losses. In addition, as the types of products demanded by consumers and the in-facility

and online security needs associated with those demands change, retailers will most likely rely heavily

on technology to help focus on loss prevention instead of apprehension of criminals after assets have

been lost. Being proactive in trying to reduce asset loss is extremely important when combatting

organized retail crime (ORC). The Law Enforcement Retail Partnership Network (LERPnet) tracks

organized retail crime across jurisdictions and shares information with retail loss prevention personnel

and public law enforcement agencies. This collaboration helps in the apprehension of ORC perpetrators.

Protecting human assets from acts of terrorism is also a concern for retailers and requires collaborative

efforts between retailers, patrons, and law enforcement.

Zoo and aquarium security is concerned with securing zoos and aquariums which are home to many rare

and exotic plants and animals. Threats to zoo and aquarium security include vandalism, accidents,

health-related emergencies, theft, shoplifting, ticket and credit card fraud, auto theft, violence against

persons, bus and tram incidences, people and dangerous wildlife encounters, ATM issues, and

protection of endangered species.

Across all of the aforementioned types of security “comprehensive physical security and access control

programs, continuous inventory control procedures...emergency management planning and procedures,

video surveillance, security personnel,” vigilant employees, and the integration of existing technologies

appropriate to each type of security will help minimize the loss of assets, reduce or eliminate threats,

and increase security (Ortmeier, 2013, p.258).

“Workplace violence can occur in virtually any workplace and at any time…may occur between

employees, may be the result of unsafe working conditions, or may stem from a relationship that exists

outside the workplace” (Ortmeier, 2013, p.268). Persons employed in retail sales, education, healthcare,

transportation, private security and law enforcement are more likely to be victims of workplace violence

than persons employed in other professions. Workplace shootings are one of the most frequently

occurring types of workplace violence. Employees at retail outlets, especially small retail stores, are

most at risk of receiving injuries on the job. Employees should be knowledgeable about the profile of

potential perpetrators of work place violence and they should be trained to recognize and report these

symptoms to appropriate security personnel. Comprehensive workplace violence policies and

procedures should also be clearly outlined so that employees are aware of the strategies for addressing

workplace violence (e.g., escape routes) and the consequences for perpetrating workplace violence.

Threats to the well-being of this nation exist domestically and internationally. After the September 11,

2001 attack and destruction of the World Trade Center the concept of “Homeland Security” was coined.

Although the notion of homeland security and the nation’s response to disasters, violence, and terror

can be traced back to the 1800s, the contemporary use of the term homeland security refers to the

government’s involvement in addressing threats to the unity of the federal system of government,

national security involving foreign nations, and enforcing laws enacted by Congress. Thus, terrorism is

one of the activities that falls under the supervision of homeland security. Terrorism exists in many

forms and generally “involves the use of violence or threats to intimidate or coerce others” (Ortmeier,

2013, p.279). Terrorist acts can be perpetrated domestically either at the hands of “home grown

terrorists” or international terrorists. International terrorism is perpetrated across the globe by various

terrorist groups.

The United States government has enacted several pieces of legislation to respond to terrorism. The

foreign intelligence surveillance act (FISA) of 1978 limited the civil liberties applicable to foreigners and

outlined procedures for the collection of foreign intelligence information deemed necessary to protect

the United States against any real or potential attacks, sabotage, or international terrorism. After the

1995 Oklahoma City bombing the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996 was enacted.

After the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001 was

enacted, enhancing the authority of local, county, state, and federal law enforcement agencies to

conduct criminal investigations. The Aviation and Transportation Security Act of 2001 resulted in the

creation of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Homeland Security Act of 2002

resulted in the establishment of what is now the US Department of Homeland Security. In 2006 the USA

PATRIOT Act Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 was signed into law to continue the

provisions outlined in USA PATRIOT act of 2001, address issues associated with the infringement of

Americans’ privacy and civil liberties, improve port security, and increase the tools available to reduce

and eliminate the spread of methamphetamine.

There are several types of weapons and threats that can negatively impact homeland security such as

bomb threats and weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, biological, chemical, and radiological). Natural

disasters (tornadoes, earthquakes and tsunamis, and hurricanes), and environmental disasters

(environmental crime, pandemics, and bioterrorism) also pose threats to homeland security. Similar to

local and state law enforcement agencies the federal government utilizes various law enforcement

agencies to secure its personnel, property, and sensitive information. However, governmental agencies

combat threats to security domestically and internationally.

In response to the intelligence Reform and Terrorism Protection Act of 2004 (which was a result of the

9/11 commissions report) and the Post-Katrina Emergency Reform Act of 2006 (which amended the

Homeland Security Act of 2002) the Department of Homeland Security (U.S. DHS) assumed its current

structure on March 31, 2007. The U.S. DHS is a consolidation of more than 22 agencies (including the

acquisition of the Secret Service and the Coast Guard from the Treasury Department) and is subdivided

into four major directorates (border and transportation security, emergency preparedness and

response, science and technology, and information analysis and infrastructure protection). The U.S. DHS

is managed by the office of the secretary which is informed by several advisory panels and committees

(homeland security advisory Council, national infrastructure advisory Council, homeland security science

and technology advisory committee, critical infrastructure partnership advisory Council, and interagency

correlating council on emergency preparedness and individuals with disabilities).

Domestically the border and transportation security directorate of the U.S. DHS, particularly the

transportation portion of that directorate, is the most recognized primarily because US citizens utilize

various modes of transportation that fall under the supervision of the U.S. DHS daily. Airline and airport

security are managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). To reduce threats to

homeland security the TSA enforces minimum security measures imposed by the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA) which include screening all persons and baggage before entering departure areas,

collaboration with law enforcement, the awareness and enforcement of security plans developed by

airline and airport management and the knowledge and enforcement of airport disaster plans. Airport

security strategies also include the use of passenger profiling techniques, U.S. customs agents with

trained dogs, screening of airline employees, positive identification of all passengers, random baggage

searches, screening equipment, biometrics (e.g., fingerprinting), automated scanners, explosive

detection equipment, and control integration techniques.

Like humans, cargo is also transported throughout the United States. The primary function of this cargo

transportation is for commerce. Cargo is transported by air (airplanes), land (trucking industry and

railroad), and sea (maritime). Billions of dollars are lost each year in transportation and cargo-related

thefts. Thefts can be perpetrated by employees and nonemployees. Various government agencies and

policies have been created and enacted to address issues associated with transportation and cargo

security. Threats can originate domestically or could potentially be imported from international

providers. The National Cargo Security Council (NCSC) collects and analyzes cargo theft information from

which cargo security measures can be devised to help prevent cargo losses.

There are also various types of security associated with the various modes of transportation (trucking

industry, railroad, maritime) utilized for cargo. The trucking industry relies on the Federal Motor Carrier

Safety Administration (FMCSA) to help enforce its security measures. The Federal Railroad

Administration (FRA) helps enforce railroad security measures. Maritime security measures are derived

from the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 and the Security and Accountability for

Every (SAFE) Port act of 2006.

The U.S. DHS is also concerned about critical infrastructure security. Seventeen (17) critical

infrastructure sectors have been identified as needing protective action to prevent and respond to

terrorist attacks or other hazards. Because the majority of the infrastructure sectors identified by the

U.S. DHS are privately owned and operated, the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) which is

supplemented by sector-specific plans (SSPs) helps to ensure infrastructure security between private

and public owners. The NIPP and the SSPs “define roles and responsibilities, catalog existing security

authorities, institutionalize already existing security partnerships, and establish the strategic objectives

required to achieve a level of risk-reduction appropriate to each individual sector” (Ortmeier, 2013,

p.311). The SSPs also share information concerning best practices and threat-based information within a

“sector-specific risk-reduction consultative network” (Ortmeier, 2013, p.311). The need to maintain

infrastructures was exemplified in the Minneapolis, Minnesota when portions of the Interstate 35W

bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River on August 1, 2007 near downtown Minneapolis. The

September 9, 2010 explosion of the San Bruno gas pipeline in California exemplifies the need for

information sharing among SSPs. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) strongly encouraged

the operators to establish maximum allowable operating pressure guidelines (MAOP)

Reference

Ortmeier, P.J. (2013). Introduction to security: Operations and management (4th ed.). Upper Saddle

River, NJ: Pearson.