Keeping Your Facility Secure

Natural disasters, fires and accidents are not the only type of dangerous incidents that can occur at a facility. Robberies, trespassing and vandalism can also put employees in danger and/or compromise the safety of your building.

As National Preparedness Month winds down, you should think about the systems you have in place to secure your facility, eliminate theft and tampering, and protect your employees. One of the first steps you can take is setting up a people identification system.

Employee and visitor badges are a quick and easy way to identify people in your facility and restrict or allow access.
Another way to keep your facility secure is to install surveillance equipment, like cameras, and place signs around
your facility to deter unwanted activities. If your budget does not allow for the purchase of a full-blown security
system, signs and dummy cameras can be just as effective.

Finally, ensure your parking lot is secure. A simple measure like parking permits can help you control access to your
facility’s parking areas and control access for unauthorized vehicles.

By taking measures to keep your facility secure, you are helping to protect your business and your most valuable
assets – your employees.

Keep your parking lot under control

Keeping track of who enters and exits your parking lot is an important part of facility safety. A great way to manage parking lot access is with parking permits. Parking permits come in all shapes, sizes and colors, so it’s easy to find exactly what you need to create a system for managing your parking lot.

A few of your options:

• Hanging Parking Permits: Hanging parking permits are the most popular style of parking permit. Hanging parking permits help you keep track of every vehicle in your lot and can be easily spotted by security when hung on each vehicle’s rear-view mirror.
• Adhesive Parking Permits: Adhesive permits are easy to apply to virtually any vehicle – simply stick adhesive parking permits to bumpers, mirrors or windshields for fast easy identification. Adhesive parking permits come in several shapes including oval, square, diamond, shield and car shaped. Other styles include self-cling & permits on-a-roll the best choice for high volume use.
• Custom Permits: Custom parking permits allow you to easily organize your facility’s parking lot your way using your wording, your choice of color and your numbering sequence. It’s easy. Add your logo or special wording to create unique permit that cannot be easily duplicated.

To enforce your facility’s parking permit policy, consider using parking permit  signs. Parking permit signs inform visitors, employees and others  that they need a parking permit in order to park in the facility. Permit signs can also help deter unwanted visitors from parking in your lots.

How do you control access to your parking lots?

Security Signs- Picking the right material

Security signs are an important part of facility safety, helping to warn employees and visitors of hazards and clearly communicate facility policies. Once you have picked out the sign you are looking for, it’s important to consider the material the sign is made of.

What options are available? Emedco’s options include:

• Aluminum: Withstands extreme indoor or outdoor temperatures. Guaranteed never to rust – durable and lightweight.
• Steel: Galvanized coating resists rust and corrosion. Strong 20-gauge thickness withstands abusive conditions.
• Plastic: Won’t chip, flake, peel or rust in harsh plant conditions. Lightweight for easy mounting and flexibility.
• Polyethylene: High-density plastic won’t crack, rust or bend. Reduces injury or damage if struck.
• Foam Adhesive: Peel and stick application is perfect for textured or irregular surfaces, such as cinder block or brick.
• Adhesive Vinyl: Peel and stick application provides a permanent adhesive bond to any smooth surface. Flexes to fit curved surfaces.
• Magnetic: Use on steel doors, drums, tanks, cabinets, machines or cylinders. Perfect for temporary applications.

To view all of Emedco’s Security Sign legends, visit www.emedco.com.

Keep Concealed Weapons Out of Your Business!

Just hearing ‘concealed weapons’ congers up scary scenarios of violence, injury and possibly even death. And not what business owners want happening at their facilities.

What can a business owner do to protect their buildings & grounds? Create a building entrance security system – it’s just that easy! By controlling entryways and restricting access you can keep out unauthorized people.  Keeping out even unauthorized people really isn’t enough if you want to completely deter crime in and around your facility you need to keep weapons out as well.

Below are the 3 main things you should implement immediately at your business:

1)     Metal Detectors help uncover hidden weapons and unwanted metal objects such as knives on employees and visitors.

2)     Security Cameras secure your facility, eliminate theft, tampering and protect your most important assets. CCTV cameras safeguard your company from any and all unwanted activities by identifying  employees and visitors, documenting  entry & exits and observing all activities in and around your facility. Help deter & document unlawful activity with security cameras.

3)     Security Signs Prevent unauthorized activity, communicate security practices, enforce policies and warn of hazards in and around your facility grounds. You will want to specifically post the fact that you are using surveillance cameras & metal detectors.

Two more things that you should put into action are:

1)     Badge System will enable you to tighten security and keep track of everyone who enters your building. Immediately notice unauthorized visitors, eliminate unwanted persons and stop potential criminals with the use of badges.

2)     Security Barriers redirect vehicle and pedestrian traffic away from unsafe or unauthorized situations.

Be proactive when protecting your business from concealed weapons and potential crime. Rely on Emedco for all your building security needs.

Employee Theft is on the Rise-Protect Your Business Now!

The Department of Justice reports that nearly one third of all employees commit some degree of employee theft and that number is on the rise in the United States. According to the US Chamber of Commerce employee theft can cost businesses up to $40 billion dollars each year and is considered a main cause for the failure of new businesses.

With statistics like that employee theft is something all business owners need to be concerned with and start a line of defense to prevent it. You may want to implement security measures that include surveillance cameras, door alarms and locks but what do you do about company property like office equipment or laptops? How can you deter theft of those items? Implement a Property ID labeling system.

Property ID labels or Asset ID labels help businesses track inventory, identify assets and recover equipment. Label anything you want to keep track of with your company name, number sequence or barcode. For businesses property id labels are the smart economical choice for securing valuable company property.

Employee theft is a serious criminal offense and may be punishable by prison time, heavy fines or restitution. Make sure that employees know that the company is taking steps to protect their assets. Employees who think they might get caught stealing will be less likely to attempt it.

Rely on Emedco for all your property id labels, safeguard your valuables today and protect your business from employee theft.

Choosing Vinyl Parking Permits

Keeping your employees & your business safe from crime – starts with your parking lot and parking permits are an ideal security tool for keeping your parking lot crime free. Control access to your parking lots using a parking permit system. Parking permits are a great way to keep track of every vehicle in your lot. Permits are easily spotted by security when applied to each vehicle

There are many styles of parking permits to choose from and today we are going to focus on custom vinyl parking permits.

Vinyl parking permits can be adhered to bumpers, mirrors or windshields. Designed with your wording and choice of color these weather resistant permits are guaranteed not to fade and the adhesive vinyl holds up against all weather conditions without peeling from the surface. For extra security you can add consecutive numbering.

There are 6 types of vinyl parking permits:

• Type 1: Front Adhesive Vinyl, great for mounting inside windows.
• Type 2: Back Adhesive Vinyl, works well on the outside of vehicles – or inside, on the back of a rearview window.
• Type 3: Reflective Back Adhesive Vinyl can be seen at night or in dark conditions, providing easy recognition in covered ramps.
• Type 4: Front Static cling Vinyl, mounts inside windows without leaving a sticky residue. Can be moved or reused.
• Type 5: Reflective Front Adhesive Vinyl shows up in dark, gloomy conditions for quick identification in unlit parking lots.
• Type 6: Removable Back Adhesive Vinyl lets you easily peel permits off any surface. Great for bumpers and rearview mirrors.

Custom vinyl parking permits can be ordered easily and there is never a set up charge! Don’t forget parking lot signs! Install proper signage around your facility grounds that clearly states your parking lot policies. A sign such as ‘Permit Parking Only-Violators Will Be Towed’ message clearly states the consequences of parking illegally in your lot. Signs will help convey your messages & policies which will help in deterring potential violators.

Parking lots are the #1 place for crime – don’t be a statistic – implement a parking lot security system with parking permits & signs. Start using vinyl parking permits today! Rely on Emedco for all your facility security needs.

Who Owns It? Property ID Labels and You!

Where I work we are required to take our laptops home everyday. When I finish work everyday and close my laptop I see a Property ID Label and I am reminded that ‘my’ laptop really belongs to my employer.

Company property should be property labeled with asset id labels for 3 reasons:

• Theft Prevention
• Inventory Control
• Track physical assets

Employees will avoid taking anything that has a tracking label on it because that means that it was signed out to that employee for company use. According to your company policy, if that laptop or cell phone goes missing the company will hold the employee that it was signed out to responsible. Additionally,  outside thieves will also avoid taking any property that is labeled because they know it will not be accepted at pawn shops or even on the streets – it’s ‘hot’ or ‘stolen’ and is rendered useless.

Inventory that is labeled with asset id labels can be easily tracked with data management software. Making it ideal for asset management, re-ordering of stock and knowing how much stock you have on hand. Having an accurate count of inventory benefits companies in many ways including the ability to ship orders without delays and easily knowing company worth at any given time.

Label all your property including computers, laptops, printers, copiers, tools, furniture, fax machines, telephones, machinery and cabinets to easily keep track of all your physical assets. Knowing your physical assets will aid your insurance company in the event of a fire or natural disaster, when you will need to assess your losses.

Property id labels come in many sizes and styles to choose from so it’s easy to find exactly the label to fit your needs.

For extra security use custom property id labels and add your own wording, company information or logo.

Rely on emedco.com for a wide selection property id labels to identify, track and safeguard your valuables.

Reduce Loss: Keep Contraband Out of the Workplace

Employers need to remind employees that there is no place that they can hide contraband in the workplace. Ensuring your facility is drug & crime free will allow you to get the best productivity out of your workers.

Contraband such as drugs & alcohol in the workplace can cost businesses an estimated $102 billion a year in reduced and lost productivity, according to the most recent Labor Department statistics. It has been estimated that one in every eight workers, ages 26 to 34, possesses, uses or sells contraband on the job.

Potential crimes will be deterred including theft, drug use and/or sales. Also, violent crimes that would involve weapons such as guns or knives will also be reduced if employees do not have anywhere to keep them; dramatically reducing work related injuries and thus reducing lost work time and/or workman’s comp claims.

Cell phones, although technically not contraband, should also remain outside the facility.

So now that we’ve determined that keeping contraband and cell phones out of the workplace is a great idea how do we achieve this?

• Create Polices
• Post Indoor Security Signs

Based on your company policy you might want to search lockers or company property if you have adequate suspicion that a policy may be being violated. Make sure that you include the proper signage such as “Lockers Subject to Search” and “Lockers are Company Property” in and around employee common areas & locker rooms.

Signs that state your policies on guns or weapons, cell phones, search policies, drugs & alcohol clearly communicate security practices at your facility. Signs are great deterrents and also make sure those employees & visitors know not bring a weapon, cell phones or drugs in the building.

Protect your business from contraband by posting proper signs. Rely on emedco.com for Indoor Security signs and Outdoor Property Protection Signs today.

Destructible Labels – Frustrate Thieves!

It is known that thieves will avoid taking anything that has a tracking label on it because that property will not be accepted at pawn shops or even on the streets – it’s ‘hot’ or ‘stolen’ and is rendered useless. When a thief wants a valuable that has a property id label on it they may try a quick attempt at removing it by trying to peel it off. Destructible labels do not peel off – instead they ‘chip’ off into tiny pieces – one tiny piece at a time.

These labels take forever to remove – these labels frustrate thieves – and they just give up and will look for something else to steal.

Destructible labels add extra protection by being custom. You can add your own wording, company information or logo for the highest security. Not only do Destructible labels provide excellent security against tampering by ‘chipping away’ but they also leave an aggressive adhesive behind.

These labels are considered ‘high security’ because this destructible feature – labels cannot be removed without signs of tampering and are made of super durable vinyl that resists solvents and weathering.

Property id labels can be applied to office equipment, computers, inventory, laptops, furniture and more.

So if you want to frustrate thieves while protecting your valuable assets choose destructible labels.

Rely on property id labels from Emedco to identify, track and safeguard your valuables.

Homeland Security – In The Workplace- What You Need To Know

In response to the 9/11 terror attacks against the United States back in 2001 the Federal government has instituted the US Department of Homeland Security. Within’ this Homeland Security Department developed the Homeland Security Advisory System which indicates different terror alert levels and the protective measures that could be taken during each alert level.

In the workplace it is up to the employer to make sure that their employees not only are informed of the current terror alert levels but that they understand what they actually mean and how to protect themselves in the event of incident.

Homeland security signs and wall charts are excellent tools to help employers keep their workers safe.

Hang signs and/or wallcharts at employee entrances, in break rooms, or work areas as a security reminder so everyone is prepared for emergency procedures.

• Inform
• Educate
• Alert

Changeable homeland security signs display security alert facts in an easily understandable way. 5 changeable magnetic panels indicate the daily threat level. Bold, colorful graphics make the message highly visible.

E-Z flip homeland security signs convenient flip feature stores 5 different security warnings. Easily change security alert status without the need to store multiple magnetic sign panels. Simply “flip” to desired alert panel – Severe, High, Elevated, Guarded or Low – and then fasten into place. Each panel explains the different alerts.

Homeland security wallchart displays the homeland security advisory’s 5 alert levels and explains protective measures that could be taken during each different level using bold colors and common language to rank alert warnings. Easy to read and understand ensuring that message reaches all employees.

MARSEC wallchart explains the 3 levels of security enforced by the U.S. Coast Guard in the event of a threat against Homeland Security in marine areas. Indicates corresponding color of level of threat under each directive – Severe, Red; High, Orange; Elevated, Yellow; Guarded, Blue; and Low, Green. Ideal for use on boats, docks, marinas or in any coastal facility.

Start protecting your people from terrorist threats and make it one of your highest priorities. For more information and more selection of signs and wallcharts visit Emedco on line today.