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Business & Workplace Safety

Business Watch


 RCMP Horse and Rider

Business Watch Program
Aims to enhance communications between the police and the business community in order to reduce crime. Our goal is to provide the business community with crime prevention tools to help protect their assets and create a safe working environment.

To receive emails regarding neighbourhood commercial break and enters, email your company name and street address to: rcmp_business_watch@richmond.ca

Richmond businesses can request a free assessment to help protect their assets and create a safe vorking environment by calling 604-207-4790. 

To find out more download a copy to the Business Watch Brochure in PDF format:

PDF Document Business Watch Brochure

RCMP Business Watch Newsletters

PDF Document Summer 2008
PDF Document Summer 2007
PDF Document Spring 2007
PDF Document Winter 2006
PDF Document Fall 2006
PDF Document Spring 2006

TIP: Your address should clearly be visible from the street. 


Employee Safety

  • Employees should keep their personal belongings in locked cabinets.
  • Employees working late at night should use the "buddy system" when leaving the premises and walking to their vehicles.
  • Post signs encouraging customers and employees to always lock their vehicles and to lock valuables in their trunks.

Exterior Lighting

  • Illuminate your entire property, including the roof, if possible.
  • Inspect your lights regularly, replace burned-out or broken lights immediately.
  • Outdoor light fixtures should be clean and utilize the maximum wattage possible to maximize lighting effectiveness . 
  • Protect your outdoor lights with anti-tampering cages installed to protect the light bulbs.
  • Use dusk-to-dawn light fixtures.

Doors 

  • astragalAll exterior doors should have good quality deadbolts (with 1 1/2 inch throws) installed.
  • Criminals often use a pry tool to distort the door jamb until the door can be forced open, Install an anti-pry metal plate on all exterior doors.  Anti pry plates are bolted to the door and cover the gap between the door & door frame.
  • Anti-wrench door collars (available at all local hardware stores) could be installed to protect the area around the door handle and deadbolt.
  • “Barn door braces” can be installed to reinforce bay doors. 
  • Create a checklist listing all exterior doors, windows and gates and assign the task of insuring all are locked at the end of the day to a specific person.     
  • If appropriate, bollards could be installed in front of glass doors or windows (see photo below).     

Door Guard

Bollards

Bollards

  • Bollards are rigid posts that can be arranged in a line to protect vulnerable areas of your business, such as glass windows or doors, or in front of bay doors.
  • Bollards can be mounted near each other so that they block vehicles from driving through.
  • Removable bollards can be lowered or removed, either manually or automatically, when not needed and to allow access for service and emergency vehicles                                              

Windows

  • Security film or plexiglass could be installed on glass doors or windows near the door locks to reinforce the glass.
  • Windows that slide open should have secondary locks installed.

     PDF Document Security Film Info

Alarms

  • Alarms should be used in addition to other security measures, not as the only security measure.
  • If you have an alarm system, use it!
  • Check motion sensors on the security alarm to ensure the sensors are covering the widest area possible including all entry/exits and windows.
  • Check motion sensors on a regular basis to ensure they are in good working order.
  • If possible, install a flashing strobe light outside the business. The flashing strobe light would be triggered by the alarm to indicate a break and enter in progress.
  • All exterior doors (including bay doors) and ground floor windows should have alarm stickers attached at eye level.  

Secured Items 

  • Computer equipment should be bolted to the floor and/or desk.
  • Computer backups should be stored off-site.
  • Record the computer make, model and serial number(s).
  • Laptops should be removed from the premises overnight, or stored in a secure location.
  • Blank cheques, credit card machines and similar property should be secured in your safe at the end of the day.
  • Valuable merchandise should be stored in a secured location when your business is closed.

Key Control 

  • Keep a record of all keys issued.
  • Restrict keys to staff who actually need them.
  • Master keys and duplicates should be kept locked in a secure location when not in use.
  • Create a record where everyone must sign when using keys.

Fences & Gates

  • If possible, fence the entire perimeter of your property.
  • Gates should have a pre-determined opening and locking schedule with one person responsible for ensuring the gate is properly locked.
  • Gates should be secured with good quality padlocks and chains.
Outside
  • Secure ladders indoors if possible, if not, use good quality padlocks and chains.
  • Do not store pallets outside the building.
  • Keep shrubs trimmed back from windows and doors.
  • Display your address clearly on both the front and rear of your building.

Safes

  • Standing safes should be firmly anchored to the floor.
  • Limit the number of persons having access to keys and combinations.
  • Change the locks or combinations when the people with access terminate their employment.