Three Questions To Ask When Contracting With A Private Security Company

Posted on: 23 September 2017

Whether you want personal protection or someone to watch over your business when no one is in the office, contracting with a private security company is a good option for getting trained professionals to assist you. Before you jump in and sign a contract for services, here are three questions to ask to ensure the company will fit your needs.

Are Personnel Trained in Non-Lethal Defense Methods?

It seems every day there is a new story about police officers shooting people who weren't threatening, had toy weapons, or were unarmed. Situations like these can be problematic for your business in a variety of way, not the least of which is the potential personal injury lawsuits and PR disaster that may stem from such an incident.

Therefore, a good question to ask the private security company is whether its guards have training in de-escalation and non-lethal defense methods. Having security personnel around with this type of training reduces the risk of problematic outcomes (e.g. someone being shot without good cause) because the guards will have more tools at their disposal to handle volatile situations.

While you're asking about this issue, it's also a good idea to check where the guards have received their training. It's generally better to have security staff that has been taught by recognized experts than people with questionable or unverifiable backgrounds.

Do Security Personnel Have Emergency Medical Training?

While this shouldn't be a deal breaker when you're deciding which private security company to contract with, having guards with some training in handling medical emergencies can be immensely beneficial. Even having guards around who only know CPR can prevent an unfortunate health crisis (e.g. heart attack) from becoming a medical catastrophe.

However, it's equally important to ensure your or the company's insurance will cover medical injuries. If the security personnel injures someone while administering first aid or CPR, the patient could come back and sue for damages. Therefore, you need to make sure an insurance provider will cover the cost of a lawsuit or settlement.

What Is the Turnover Rate?

The last question to ask is what the company's turnover rate is. There are a couple of reasons for this. It's always better to work with people you know, first of all. Having someone who is familiar with you or your property will make it easier for him or her to notice when things aren't right and take the appropriate action.

Second, a high turnover rate can indicate the company has a problem hanging onto people for a variety of negative reasons (e.g. low pay, bad company culture), and having an unhappy employee guarding you or your business can be a recipe for disaster.

For more information about hiring security personnel, contact a local private security company.

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