Security guards are crime, threat and risk prevention officers assigned to protect specific people and property. The main concern of a security guard is to protect persons and prevent damage or destruction of property.

But not all security guards are capable of this function, majorly because of negligence on the job. In this article, we will be looking at some of these on the job negligence of security guards that are potential warning signs.

Let’s uncover them.

SECURITY GUARD NEGLIGENCE: 10 Warning Signs to Fire Your Security Guard

As a business or property owner, the following 10 warning signs are common security guard negligence you shouldn’t be hearing about or tolerating in your business or residential premises. Any security guard caught exhibiting such security negligence should be fired!

• Excessive Absence

Entering your premises on a good day and discovering that the security guard who is meant to be on duty is absent and there is no one to control or guard the entrance against intruders is a warning sign that you need to fire the security guard.

This is because, excessive absences of security guard from duty can have a major effect on your company such as the occurrence of crime, threat and risk. Criminals don’t suddenly attack a business or residential property without carrying out some due diligence. And part of such is monitoring the daily routine of your security guards.

An excessively absent security guard tells a vigilant criminal that your property is porous on certain days or during certain hours. This is all they need to strike!

• Tardiness

Another common security guard negligence is lateness to work. This occurs when a security guard fails to be at his/her duty post on time. For example, you need your security guard to handle a duty urgently and he was called to find out where he is, only to discover that he is stuck in traffic.

This is a warning sign that you need to adhere to. Because, this can have time and cost implications for business or home whereby lives and properties cannot be protected from any threat or risk.

• Sleeping on Duty

Another key security guard negligence is sleeping on duty. Sleeping while on duty by security guards can lead to lack of productivity, the unprofessional appearance, and late response to various dangerous [threat and risk] situations. For example, intruders can take advantage of this to have access to your premises and cater away with valuables.

• Smoking on Duty

Smoking on duty is a common security guard negligence that needs to be addressed. This is the use of tobacco products (including, but not limited to, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, snuff, or chewing tobacco) by security guard on duty.

Smoking on duty can interfere with the security guard’s work, fitness for duty, or his professional appearance. Once these interference occur, the security guard will be unable to perform well at his duty.

• Drinking on Duty

Drinking on duty is another security guard negligence that you wouldn’t want to hear about. For example, a customer comes to make enquiries from your security guard only to find him smelling of alcohol.

This is a warning sign that you need to fire your security guard. Because, drinking on duty by security guards can lead to reduction of fitness for work or duty and it can also affect his/her ability to sense and respond quickly and correctly during crisis. And having such a guard cannot keep your business premises safe and secure.

• Leaving Duty Post

Another security guard negligence you don’t want to hear about is leaving duty post while on duty. Imagine having a crowd of people on your premises and there was a fire outbreak and your security guard is not found at his duty post to ensure that everyone is safe from the incident.

This is a warning sign. Because, having a security guard who leaves his/her post during working hours will not be able to perform his duties as prevention officer. The effect of this is, there will be no guard to control access by strangers into the business premises.

• Entertaining People on Duty

Entertaining people on duty is yet another common security guard negligence you don’t want to hear about in your premises. Having or hearing that your security guard entertains people during working hours is a sign of an unprofessional prevention officer.

Entertaining people on duty distracts your security guard and could lead the visitors to be exposed to dangers of which they may not be aware. Furthermore, people from outside entering your facility can increase the risk of theft, violence, sabotage, or even terrorism.

• Arguing With Customers/Visitors

A security guard that argues with customers is unprofessional and not good for business. Imagine your security guard in an argument with your customer and they are both on top of their voices disturbing the peace of the business environs.

This is a warning sign you need to fire him/her. A professional security guard is expected to keep his or her cool while attending to visitors. Engaging in an argument is a risky distraction that can be capitalized on by intending criminals.

• Engaging in Unnecessary Conversation

Another common security guard negligence that you don’t want to hear about in your premises is engaging in unnecessary conversation. Having such a security guard in your business that engages in idle conversation during working hours is unprofessional and can lead to not being vigilant on what is happening or be able to control access to the business premises.

Now imagine a guard engaging in an unnecessary conversation while on duty. This will give buglers the chance to gain access into the premises and create damages to life and properties. This shows a warning sign that you need to fire the security guard (and contract one from a reputable security vendor).

• Listening to Music on Duty

Listening to music on duty is another security guard negligence you don’t want to hear about in your premises. Imagine a security guard with earphones humming or dancing to music on his or her phone? Any security guard who listens to music while on duty will get distracted and will be unable to respond to crisis while they occur.

Take for example, a customer come in to make an enquiry and find your security guard nodding his head while on duty. This is a warning sign that you need to fire such a security guard immediately.

Conclusion

There you have it, 10 warning signs you need to fire your security guards.

Having security guards stationed in your business or residence is a requirement and a necessity to keep you and your business and family safe and secure against threats, risks and dangers.

But are you experiencing these 10 security guard negligence in your premises?

Are you noticing these warning signs in your security guards?

If yes, here is what you must do: click here to contract well trained and equipped security guards that will not only avoid these things but will ensure that the lives of your people and properties are safe and secure!