How to Improve Your Warehouse Security

1. Security Cameras and Alarm Systems

Cameras and alarm systems are a basic necessity in every warehouse, not only for their reactive purpose of recording the culprits or raising the alarm when they’re on-site but also as a visual deterrent. A decent camera system complemented by an effective alarm system can put off potential thieves before they even try to break in. Along with this, many insurers will make it a condition of cover that effective warehouse security measures are implemented.

Warehouse security systems vary in scope and cost, from basic onsite recording devices to those which can be monitored and controlled remotely via the cloud. To reduce external warehouse risks from criminals, develop a system that works well for your business.

2. Access Control

Controlling access to a warehouse is another quick and effective way to improve warehouse security. Instead of keys and locks, move to the next level and integrate electronic building access into your warehouse and other buildings. This can ensure warehouse risks are minimised by allowing access only to individuals who are permitted in a particular area and providing logs of access to offer 24/7 protection.

These professional systems create a sense of safety and trust within a warehouse, but if electronic systems are beyond your budget, having a strict keyholder system within your organisation can serve the same purpose.

3. Warehouse Layout

Something that often isn’t initially considered when you’re thinking about how to keep a warehouse safe is whether the layout of your warehouse helps to limit risk. For instance, easy breaches occur when goods are stocked within view of doors or other access points and attract the attention of potential thieves.

It’s better to keep goods out of sight while still ensuring they’re visible to staff to help overall security. This might sound like a difficult task but mirrors can help staff see into areas they wouldn’t usually be able to keep track of, and remote monitoring via camera systems is a possibility for particularly high-value goods.

4. Employee and Visitor Monitoring

Knowing where visitors are at any given time is one of those business security measures no company should take for granted. Similar systems can be put in place to keep track of employees, making it easier to trace any breach back to its source, whether it’s a deliberate or accidental one.

Implement warehouse security systems where team members and visitors must log in and out of the whole building and any specific areas of concern, i.e. a sector where high-value small goods are stored. For visitors, consider brightly coloured jackets to help all staff differentiate them from employees – it’s harder to touch something if everyone around you knows you shouldn’t be doing that because you don’t work there.

5. Entry Points

If you limit the number of entry points into your warehouse, you instantly make it more secure as there are fewer points where a breach could occur. If you then couple this with an efficient electronic or manual access monitoring system, you’re minimising warehouse risks and improving warehouse security.

Funnelling employees and, especially, visitors through a reduced number of entry points which are covered by monitoring controls and cameras is both an excellent deterrent and serves a purpose retrospectively if a breach occurs.

5. Response Plan Procedures

An emergency response plan can train employees in how to respond to a breach, limiting the damage if one occurs and placing warehouse security at the heart of the business. By undertaking regular dummy tests and role-plays, businesses can instruct all team members on how to keep a warehouse safe. Along with this, regular tests can ensure vital alarms, cameras and access control systems are working properly, embedding attention to warehouse risks into the workplace ethos.