4.25 Personal Security

Safety, Health, and Environmental Manual


These guidelines provide information that will improve personal and physical security.

Managers and supervisors are responsible for reviewing these guidelines and making reasonable efforts to ensure that employees understand this information.

4.25.1 Six General Rules of Personal Security

  1. Be constantly aware of your surroundings.

  2. Vary routes and routines.

  3. Do not draw undue attention to yourself.

  4. If confronted, remain calm and cooperative.

  5. Become familiar with and obey all laws and customs of the country.

  6. Follow all specific rules unique to your Church assignment.

4.25.2 Physical Security

The actual physical security of your location is a very important part of your personal security. Below are some general physical security recommendations.

Outer Security

  • Install good lighting, as it is the best security system you can install. It is especially important to light building entrances and parking areas at home and at the office.

  • Make sure that all locks function properly and are being used.

  • Keep doors locked that do not need public access.

  • Keep your home doors locked even if you are at home.

  • Do not allow any unknown or uninvited people into your home.

  • Compare the physical security features such as security bars, lights, locks, and alarms of your home and office building to buildings of similar value and function in your area.

Money

  • Keep safes and cash deposit boxes in areas where they cannot be seen by the public.

  • Lock safes and cash deposit boxes when not in use.

  • Keep cash held in safes and cash deposit boxes to a minimum.

  • Review the procedures for storing and transporting large amounts of cash to or from banks.

  • When possible, pay salaries and allowances by check or direct deposit, not in cash.

  • Keep the absolute minimum amount of cash necessary in your home or office.

Telephone Preparedness

  • Give a bomb-threat checklist to those who answer outside lines. This checklist is available from Church Security or from the Risk Management Division.

  • Instruct staff on how to deal with harassing or threatening telephone calls or mail, and periodically review these instructions.

Paid Household and Office Staff

  • In some parts of the world, a high percentage of break-ins involve paid household or office staff such as gardeners, security guards, and custodians. Work with the Human Resource staff to review the backgrounds and references of potential staff, even if they are members of the Church.

  • If your predecessor hired the household staff, check with Human Resources to make sure they were properly screened before being hired.

  • Be cautious about tolerating the theft of food, clothing, or other inexpensive items from your home or office. Although the item may be of little value to you, your staff must know that theft of any kind will not be tolerated.

  • Change locks after a household or office staff member resigns or is discharged. This is especially important if the person was fired under contentious circumstances.

  • Do not leave sensitive documents such as bank statements, credit card numbers, itineraries, or safe combinations in areas where they can be found by staff.

  • Vary your routes and routines to surprise staff members.

4.25.3 Travel

See Safety Tips When Traveling (2005).

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