The job of security guards becomes extra tough in winter, but there are steps residents of gated communities, like estates and complexes, can take to help to improve the services of their security personnel in the colder months says Marcel Pienaar, Residential Estate Manager at ADT.

Of course their employers, the security companies, have a responsibility to properly equip the security guards against the cold to ensure that their services are in no way compromised.

“However managing agents and residents must also be involved in ensuring the guarding system and other security protocols are running smoothly in winter.”

According to Pienaar, these elements form the basis of a solid guarding solution at estates and complexes in winter:

• The security guards must be provided with the necessary protective clothing. Failure to do so should be reported to their employer by the managing agents. The clothing should preferably be reflective.
• Proper food and nutrition will not only keep a security guard warm, but also build up their immune system. Often a guard will not have the facilities to warm up food while on duty.
• The guard hut should be suitably ventilated and heated without going to the extremes that will cause discomfort or drowsiness.
• Security guards should be advised to have a flu vaccination.
• Estates should use electronic support measures, such as CCTV, to limit the need for security guards to be outside in extreme conditions.
• The guard hut must have windows that will provide the necessary observation on the approach to the hut, even if the doors of the hut are closed.
• The security guards must have the necessary equipment to compensate for the early onset of darkness, such as a torch and batteries.
• A health and safety assessment of the guarding environment should be carried out by the security company and managing agents, regularly.

Guarding is a very challenging job. We place a lot of trust in security guards to keep us safe from criminals all year round.

“But winter brings additional challenges for these security staff and without the necessary support from their employers and residents, their duties can be difficult to carry out.”

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