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The Real Purpose of Security
There is a lot of misunderstanding in the veterinary profession about
security and violence prevention. Some folks believe the veterinary practice is
not a high risk target for violence and therefore security measures are not
warranted. Some believe that the addition of security measures will give the
practice a “fort-like” atmosphere. And still others believe that security
precautions create too much of an inconvenience for the staff and are not worth
the effort.
The reality is that most security procedures don’t cost a lot of money and
integrate easily into everyday operations. And for those that believe the risk
is not serious enough to warrant action, consider the murder of a Maryland
veterinarian and his wife in the hospital just a few years ago!
The most effective and unobtrusive security program includes a “layered”
approach. The four basic layers of security in a veterinary practice are:
- Procedures. When we concentrate on getting the job done, we
sometimes forget about other things. That’s human nature. But humans also
operate on a level that is basically a set of habits. If we establish
procedures for security as part of the everyday operating protocol, the staff
is more likely to follow them.
In most cases where violence in the workplace happens, the investigation
usually reveals that a key procedural safeguard was bypassed or omitted.
Therefore procedural policies must be reinforced by leadership with actions
such as discipline when violations occur.
Procedural security includes things like keeping doors locked when necessary,
counting the day’s receipts away from the front desk, and establishing a
safety routine for when folks must work alone.
- Physical Barriers. A locked door is often the best defense against
someone trying to hurt you. In general, the protective “barrier” around the
whole practice is the facility with supervised, controlled entrance points.
Inside the building, there should be designated “safe rooms” throughout the
facility that can be used in case another employee or a visitor becomes
violent. Safe rooms should have a sturdy, lockable door (preferably swinging
outward of the room) and access to a telephone so that staff members can
barricade themselves inside and summon assistance.
Physical barriers are the primary prevention and defense tool in your arsenal,
but a door or a lock is of no use if it isn’t used properly and consistently!
- Early Warning. Using door chimes and even cameras to alert the
staff that someone has entered their “protected zone.” Although this is not a
replacement for physical barriers, having just a few seconds advance warning
of impending violence may make the difference between an incident and and
tragedy!
- Summoning Assistance. If all the precautions fail, there has to be
a way for the staff to summon assistance quickly and easily. In some cases,
the telephone is adequate, but in high risk situations, there may be a need
for more.
And security isn’t just to keep people out of the practice. By some accounts,
as much as 10% of “losses” in a veterinary practice are the result of employee
theft. That isn’t to say that all employees are dishonest, but it’s a fact that
some people will take things that don’t belong to them if given the chance.
Some security precautions are visible to clients and the general public as a
deterrent to crime...things like cameras and signs. But some security procedures
like training and background checks are “transparent” in an attempt to avoid
problems or prevent them from escalating when they do happen.
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Violence Prevention
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The information on these pages is excerpted from
The Veterinary Safety & Health Digest,
Copyright 2004 Philip J. Seibert, Jr., CVT All Rights Reserved
No part of this publication may be reproduced for distribution without prior
permission from the publisher.
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