Self Audits: Do a Gear Check Regularly
Here at Invictus Consulting we are big fans of racing – we do triathlons, trail races, open water swim races, long distance bike races, and any sort of outdoor adventure racing that requires training and gear. We certainly understand the necessity of a regular gear check, both during the training process, right before a race, and then again after a race. Having the right gear, knowing where it is all located, knowing how it all functions, and, most importantly, making sure you have everything you need is critical for race success.
This same mindset should apply to your security hardware. Make time to regularly audit your gear; preferably every six months but at the minimum once a year. Some questions to consider as you do a self audit:
- Is this device in good working order?
- Is there any part of this device in need of repair?
- Do I know how to use this device?
- Is there any software (or integration capability) for this device that needs to be audited?
Some notes to take while conducting your self audit:
- Location of each device
- Make, model, serial number of each device
- Customer support telephone numbers for each device
Security hardware you should include in your self audit:
- Fire alarms
- Fire extinguishers
- Smoke detectors
- Carbon monoxide detectors
- Access control card readers
- Cameras (e.g., focus, field of view, background compensation, viewing angle)
- Locking hardware (e.g., keys, locks, padlocks)
- Intercom system hardware
- Perimeter fencing
- Door hardware
- Glass in windows and doors
- Bollards
- Burglar alarm hardware
- Panic buttons
- Door crash bars
- Annunciators
Let’s return for one minute to our racing analogy, just to reiterate the importance of a gear check. During one recent Ironman Triathlon, one of us didn’t do a proper gear check and forgot to put running shoes in their transition bag. Coming off a 112 mile bike ride, transitioning to a 26.2 mile run, and faced with no running shoes! Run barefoot? Run in your cycling shoes? Call your wife in a panic and beg her to bring you your running shoes? We’ll let your imagination run wild as to what happened in this race, but learn from our mistake and make sure to do a proper gear check!
To Do Today: For help understanding emergency planning, risk assessment, and self auditing, contact us and let’s start a conversation.
Some interesting sites we like right now:
Uniform Crime Reporting Statistics
For more information, check out our website at www.invictusconsulting.com or email us.