The Importance of Risk Assessment in Retail Security
Updated: Aug 7
To ensure the safety of employees, patrons, physical assets and management staff, efficient and effective tailor-made retail security management plans are significant. A solid baseline of security will enable retail establishments to mitigate risks more fully, thereby being able to focus on providing a better service for their customers. Here are several factors why having a risk assessment is so crucial for the retail security.
What is Risk Assessment?
To diminish potential risk within an establishment, it’s important to decrease the levels of any vulnerabilities present and measure them against the levels of threats. The process of identifying these possible hazards and measuring them against individual vulnerabilities is known as risk assessment. This procedure also helps to examine the frequency of exposure to hazards and how to develop and implement strategies to prevent them from causing any harm. Potential threats are classified into two categories: Internal and External.
What are Internal Threats?
Internal threats are those which originate within the premises themselves, such as structural failures, mechanical breakdowns, staff theft and workplace accidents. They also cover standard violations and safety hazards.
What are External Threats?
External threats stem from outside forces like robbery, civil disturbance, or arson.
What are Vulnerabilities?
Both physical and social vulnerabilities can exist as doorways to threats within organizations. Physical vulnerabilities include factors such as flimsy exits or entrances, insufficient planning, or poor architecture, while social vulnerabilities could be employees and management being unaware or poorly educated on the proper safety protocols and security. Risk Assessment aims to cover the following:
Material and Physical Security: Equipment such as elevators, and escalators need to be checked thoroughly to prevent malfunctioning which can cause staff and patron injuries. Any delivery areas should be well protected and not left vulnerable.
Management Involvement: Plans and policies related to security and preventing threats should be put in place by the management and reviewed on a regular basis.
Control of access: There should be traffic controllers or a system in place to manage the flow of people entering and leaving the premises, especially during peak hours.
Response to Emergencies: Information signage should be well placed so that it is clear, visible, and comprehensible in the case of emergencies. Staff and shop owners should be trained and informed on how to best manage a crisis.
From prioritizing hazards and controlling measures to documenting the process and its results, our staff is fully trained and experienced in conducting detailed and step-by-step risk assessment procedures.