Canadian HR Reporter

www.hrreporter.com 27 panel. Rule of thumb: if 60 days have passed since the last review, it must be conducted right away. The next step is for management to arrange for each systems provider to confirm that all fire and intrusion systems are communicating with their central station shortly before the labour disruption starts. Each system provider must also be requested to confirm all systems have at least two of the following methods of communicating with their central station: land-line phone dialer, cellular communicator and wireless internet. The auditor will also recommend the changing of all alarm pass codes on the last working day of the strike. New pass codes should only be held by management or trusted non-striking workers. Hospitality considerations In some trucking companies, striking employees have been allowed on site to use washrooms. A more suitable solu- tion during striking times is to show compassion and provide for two or more sets of Port-a-Potties with portable sinks for handwashing, ideally set up across the street from the struck building if the union has no provisions made. the issuance of the fobs or cards and made them more difficult to track. When a strike deadline is looming, an inventory must be conducted and any access card or FOB that cannot be verified against a current payroll record or an authorized contractor's list should be deleted. One sensible way of managing the access control system data base is the use of access control software that has the inactive card management feature. For example, access to a particular building or plant can be removed from the cards or FOBs of all employees in a bargaining unit as soon as the collective agreement expires. Alarm system updates In addition, the security auditor and facilities department should address the security of all alarm systems that are monitored by off-site central stations. This includes the fire alarm system, any sprinkler systems and any intrusion systems monitoring sensitive areas such as finished product storage areas or tool rooms. The management team must also confirm the most recent date that each system provider had service personnel confirm that every device in every zone is communicating to its on-site control Naturally, the operators of any on-site cafeteria, food court or restaurants are going to pressure management to allow the strikers back on site while the strike is ongoing. Given the potential for very real financial losses, this is not unexpected. However, the concern with this is the same as for washroom access — increased potential for management and disgruntled strikers to encounter each other. Ideally, strikers should only be allowed back on site to visit human resources and they should always be escorted while they are on site. An experienced residential security consultant may also be contracted to conduct security reviews of executives who are the focus of the union. Items to be addressed include routine mobile patrols, landscaping or sight lines from the street, large civic address numbers to When a strike deadline is looming, any access card or FOB that cannot be verified against a current payroll record or an authorized contractor's list should be deleted. make it easy for first responders to find the home, lighting, intrusion alarm with mobile response, better locks and doors where required. Strikes will always be a stressful time for all parties involved. However, a professional security consultant with suitable training and experience can help reduce some of the associated stress while reducing risk to company assets, allowing for a quick facility, plant or warehouse resumption of production at the conclusion of the strike. CHRR Mike Fenton is a regional security consultant at GardaWorld in Toronto. He can be reached at michael. fenton@garda.com.

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