The times are changing.
As you retire from your kindergarten teaching job that you have been doing for more than 30 years, there are many changes that you have noticed. From the way students and teachers are evaluated to the security measures that are in place, in fact, it sometimes seems like nothing more than the passion you have for helping children has stayed the same. As you turn in your security badge that allows you to come and go from the school building at any time, you wistfully think of the days when teachers could still use a simple key to enter the building.
As the secretary reminds you that the technology department will keep your school email and employee access links open for another 48 hours, after that time you will no longer have access to any of your files unless you have kept copies on your own hard drive on your own laptop, technology that was not even available when you first started this career.
Do You Feel Safe When You Are at Work?
Security measures across the country continue to be reevaluated as the nation recovers from one workplace shooting after another. The fact that a disgruntled employee could turn on coworkers with a weapon may have been unthinkable a few decades ago, but as one unfortunate event after another makes the headlines it becomes increasingly apparent that an important role that employers face is keeping their workers and their customers safe. From installing an advanced managed access control system to other kinds of automated systems that make sure that buildings are as safe as possible, companies that make the safety of their workers and customers a priority are increasing in number.
From office security systems to monitor sprinkler systems and pull stations, it is important companies do everything within their power to protect workers and customers. Consider some of these statistics about the use of a variety of automated systems that increase not only the safety, but also the efficiency of work places, schools, hospitals, and various other locations:
- North American retailers lose as much as $45 billion worth of inventory from inventory shrink each year, according to The Global Retail Theft Barometer published by the Center for Retail Research.
- 38% of inventory shrink can be attributed to shoplifting. and 34.5% to employee theft.
- 34.5% of inventory shrink can be attributed to employee theft.
- Automated systems help eliminate the possibility of human error when it comes to forgetting to shut and log doors, as well as making sure that lights are turned off when spaces are not in use for long periods of time.
- Most alarm systems have a built in delay before contacting a monitoring company; the delay time, however, can range anywhere from 30 seconds to three minutes.
- Victims of burglary offenses in 2013 suffered an estimated $4.5 billion in property losses. Burglaries of residential properties in that same year accounted for 74% of the total reported.
- 14% of businesses has an alarm system.
- 10% to 25% of all calls for the police are alarm calls.
- There are significantly more break ins during the last two weeks of the year than at any other time of year. Indications are that both Christmas and New Years contribute to this statistic.
- 67% of burglaries can be avoided by the installation of video surveillance.
- 83% of the convicted burglars say they would attempt to determine if an alarm was present before attempting a burglary.
- Even during unplanned, impulsive burglaries, more than 50% of the intruders said they would have discontinued the burglary if they discovered an alarm.
- 38 million alarm activations a year are responded to by police.
- 94% to 98% of alarm activations are false.
- A single false alarm requires 20 minutes and two officers to investigate.
Automated systems are used for everything from fire alarms and sprinkler systems to employee access. Making sure a commercial or residential system is properly installed can help you feel safe when you are at work and safe when you get home. The increase in crime that leads to gun shot deaths and other less serious injuries is one motivator that encourages many home and business owners to look at home security and other automated systems. Are you ready to make your home or business more safe?