Mitigating risk in public-facing events and services

Safer Edge CEO, Kelsey Hoppe, was asked to contribute expert advice to the April 2019 of, Stir It Up, a monthly magazine for the catering industry. She discusses how organisations can prepare well for their security and safeguarding risks - both internal and external - at public events. The full article may be read below or online here.

It's every hospitality business owner’s worst nightmare: a terrorist, a disgruntled employee, or a lone extremist walks into a venue and begins attacking staff and members of the public.

In security risk management, we refer to this type of event as a ‘marauding’ attack and everyone who puts staff in venues accessible to the public has likely considered how they would handle such an event. The threat of such an attack can feel unpredictable, uncontrollable and hard to mitigate. The usual responses (barriers, checks, security officers) can feel clumsy and blunt. However, with a different mindset, there are several more thoughtful ways you can also address this risk.

Here are 3 examples:

1. Gain insight

These sorts of attacks can feel difficult to predict. But there are some actions you can take to better understand the likelihood of an attack. Your security teams can be keep up-to-date on the current threat environment. Government websites, such as cpni.gov.uk or NaCTSO in the UK, alongside tailored threat assessments and in-house research will allow you to consider whether your organisation, its location, specific events or conferences you host might increase the risk. Wherever you operate in the world you need to understand the local security environment specific to your business.

2. Collaborate

Every business should be managing risk through a professional risk register and crisis management plan. These integral security systems need to be underpinned by professional training and practice for all staff, or they are simply policies on a shelf.

For many businesses, safety and security management is consolidated at the top of the organisation. Managers are the people who are trained in, and daily considering, safety and security. Employees – attendants, receptionists, hosts, chefs – are trained only in the task delivery aspects of their job. However, an organisation’s security is only as strong as its weakest link. If employees aren’t aware of how their individual safety and security actions contribute to the overall security of their colleagues and the organisation -and if they haven’t had the opportunity to practice these skills, then the organisation is highly vulnerable.

3. Don’t be the problem

While ‘big bang’ attacks, like a terrorist event, capture our imaginations business owners have a responsibility to ensure critical incidents don’t result from a disgruntled or harassed employee taking matters into their own hands. Responses to the ‘insider threat’ are largely focused on cyber security where an individual’s access can cause disproportionate damage to an organisation. But there is a risk of physical attack too. Successful organisations invest in mechanisms to know if their staff are being exploited, bullied, harassed or abused - known as safeguarding. In industries with itinerant or potentially vulnerable employees, such as hospitality, effective safeguarding can mitigate or prevent a range of harm and risk, including the high-end risk of retaliation.

Insight and foresight. Bring a different mindset to your security threats. For more information and practical advice on how to protect your business contact: operations@saferedge.com.