Lessons from a Lawsuit #2. Are Your Security Policies & Procedures Defensible?

At the heart of many general liability lawsuits is heavy scrutiny of a security company’s policies and procedures. Building and implementing the right policies and procedures is critical not only for the delivery of standardized, quality-controlled security services, but also for having a defensible program in the unfortunate case of being on the wrong side of a lawsuit.

The following 3 things must be true of your Security Policies and Procedures. They must be 1) adequately defined, 2) fully documented, and 3) properly implemented. If they do not meet these criteria, they will provide little protection in a general liability case.

A strong defensible security plan is one that includes the following 6 components:

1 - Complete Coverage - Written policies and procedures need to represent both the security provider and the client, and provide adequate guidance for security operations given the level and types of risk associated with the operation.

2 - Training - Without training protocols, it will be next to impossible to prove that officers received and understood the policies and procedures. Training should be provided to 100% of officers within the first 30 days of employment, with appropriate refresher courses where appropriate.

3 - Update Directives - Every provider must have a directive process for updating and communicating policy changes. These directives will govern changes that must be made that are outside of the normal annual update schedule.

4 - Compliance Monitoring - An accountability process must be in place to ensure compliance with policies and procedures. There are many operational approaches to ensure compliance. What matters is that the approach is feasible and adequate.

5 - Continuous Improvement - An after-action review process of incidents (GL. WC, Risk, Crime, Safety) should be constructed to determine whether the policies and procedures contributed to the incident, and identify a process for updates and improvements based on lessons learned.

6 - Annual Updates - At a minimum, policies and procedures should be reviewed and updated yearly to incorporate the latest best-practices and ensure that the policies and procedures evolve in accordance with improvements and changes in the security program.

Reach out to BluDog today for expert guidance in assessing, building, or remediating your security program Policies and Procedures.