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Christmas party, event security, event, security, security services, office christmas party, office party, christmas

Top tips on running a safe and successful Christmas Party

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With Christmas coming careering towards us, many offices in Cardiff will be organising the Office Christmas party. Celebrating everyone’s hard work is certainly a lot of fun but having everything in place for a great night of festivities is no easy task. When organising a Christmas party, there is a lot that you need to consider – and the most important one is ensuring your colleague’s safety.

When organising its important that you take precautions and stick to good event security and safety practises (especially if you want everyone to have a good night but also stay safe at the same time). By sticking to these you can keep everyone safe – except embarrassing themselves with bad dancing and some dodgy karaoke or comedy.

 

Be alcohol safe

When the bosses have a free bar going and the drink starts flowing, it can be easy to misjudge and get carried away with the festivities. However, from an organisers point of view, alcohol can cause more issues than just embarrassing incidents.

Alcohol can lower our inhibitions and alter our sense of risk meaning that people who have one too many may be tempted to do things that they wouldn’t normally do – like dance on tables, take part in drink competitions or even get into fights. If you’re trying to avoid such situations try and keep an eye on how much your guests are drinking and intervene when you think someone has had too much.

 

Keep a guest list and plan seating

When organising an event and inviting guests, it is important to have up-to-date records of who is coming and who isn’t. If you’re allocating people to tables, make sure you have thought about who is sitting where and whether the people sitting next to each other have things in common. If you have a new member of staff – sit them with someone who will be able to keep the conversation going.

For guests to know where they are sat, place guests lists at the venues entrance or the restaurants front of house so that uninvited guests are unable to enter your party. If the venue doesn’t have extra staff to monitor who is coming to the party, hire extra security staff that are able to monitor who is coming in and out of the venue and ensure that no unwanted guests try to crash the party.

 

Theft

Although thefts may seem like an unlikely thing to happen during a Christmas party, bags and coats left on chairs or at the side of the room can give opportunists the chance to swipe valuables whilst everyone is busy busting out dance moves. So when guests arrive, make sure that they know where the cloakroom is and ensure that security staff are positioned close-by.

 

Dietary requirements

When organising an event such as an office party, it is important that everyone’s dietary requirements are catered for. So, before the big event, make sure that your guests have informed you of any food allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements.

Epilepsy/Hearing/Sight impediment

For any event, it is important to heed advice from anyone suffering from Epilepsy or other impairments relating to hearing or sight. Precautions such as reduced strobe or LED lighting, considering music volume or planning for people with guide dogs can go a long way.

Here at A&R Security Services can help you run a safe Christmas office party by providing guards that are fully trained in First aid and Health & Safety. Having properly trained security at your party means that help is on hand straightaway if a situation arises.

 

Car parking

If your party is in a hotel, restaurant or club, make sure that there is a carpark close by or there are designated parking spaces for guests who want to stay sober and drive home. If you are expecting guests with mobility issues, make sure that there is disabled access such as disabled parking, lowered curbs, ramps and power-assisted doors and enough space to move around freely inside the venue.

When choosing a venue as well, it is a good idea to look at where the venue is in relation to guests – how will the get to and from homes? If you choose a venue that is quite far from work, check what public transport is available.

 

Enjoy yourself!

When you are the person organising the Christmas party you want everything to go perfectly and without a hitch but it’s important that you can ley your hair down and relax. Make sure to drink responsibly, eat well, dress to impress and give yourself a pat on the back for a successful and safe Christmas party! Just make sure that you don’t drink too much and tell your boss something that you may regret on Monday morning when you’re back in the office.

 

A&R Security Services can provide comprehensive security solutions to event organisers in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport, South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our security services visit our website or call us for a free quote on 01656 713950

 

Manned guarding, office security, manned office guarding, manned guards, A&R Security Services, A&R Security,

Why manned guards are beneficial to your office building in Cardiff.

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There are multiple office blocks located in and around the city of Cardiff, with many being home to multi-million-pound businesses. Having manned guards located outside or inside your building is an effective way of dissuading criminals from attempting to commit a crime at your business.

Here we’ll be highlighting some key benefits that come with having manned guarding

Strong visible presence

When protecting your business, you want criminals to know that it is effectively guarded and protected. Having uniformed manned guards can give a strong security presence and warning to anyone scoping out your business.

24/7 monitoring

Manned guards can operate at any time of the day. They can monitor CCTV and monitor who is coming in and out of your building – making it more difficult for criminals to attempt anything.

Rapid Response

Whether it is an alarm sounding or an intruder being caught on CCTV – as manned security guards are already on site they can quickly respond to an emergency or notify mobile security. If there has been an incident, they can log them in incident report books, detailing any security events so that you have a record of what has happened.

Health and Safety Skills

If there is a medical emergency or fire, having first aid and fire safety trained manned guards will be beneficial. If any of your employees or visitors become unwell, if a fire breaks out or there is a health and safety issue- a manned guard knows how to deal with the situation in a rapid and professional manner.

Prevent unauthorised access

Most new office blocks will have inbuilt security features such as key card or fob entry to prevent any unauthorised access. However, there are office blocks that are older and do not have access security systems such as key or fob entry in place.

Manned guards can act as concierge, keeping track of who is coming in and out of the building and notifying employees about visitors being there to see them.

Keyholding services

Alongside manning reception, monitoring and H&S skills, manned security guards can offer secure key holding services. If your office building is having work done out of hours or you have earl/late deliveries, manned guards can allow them access into your property but also monitor who is coming in and out of your building.

Here at A&R Security Services, we offer professional manned guarding to businesses in Cardiff and across South Wales and the South West. To find out more about our services call us on 01656 713950 or visit our website for more details.

 

Security Services, A&R Security Services, Office Security, ARSS

Top Tips for a safe and secure office.

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When running a business, it’s important that your office is secure and properly protected against potential issues. Having office security is important not only for your business’s success but also for the welfare of your staff.

So here are our top tips for a safe and secure office for your business and your staff.

Employee theft prevention:

According to a survey from May 2016 – employee theft can potentially cost businesses more than £190 million annually. And it’s been found that more than two-thirds (67%) admit to stealing from the office often. There are a few measures that you can implement to prevent any theft, including checking staff’s bags as they leave, having security sensors, using time sheets to see if anyone is lingering after hours and securing store cupboards, lockers and desks with locks or password protection.

Security Officers:

Security officers are an effective way of protecting your business. Highly trained and professional security officers can identify suspicious or threatening behaviour quickly and act accordingly. Having security officers can be positioned in areas that require ID whether that would be at the entrance of the building or certain levels and they can approach anyone who they think may be trespassing and escort them out.

Access Control:

Using access control such as access card readers or coded doors can be a way to prevent trespassers from entering your building or entering certain rooms and levels. To restrict further access, you can close doors in busy corridors, preventing anyone tailgating staff who work in the building.

CCTV:

CCTV can allow business owners to watch and keep an eye on their business from the comfort of their own home. CCTV not only allows business owners or security guards to keep an eye on certain areas of a building but also watch for trespassers on your property or identify thieves.

Employee Awareness Guidelines:

Staff are one of the best assets at preventing crime from happening, so creating staff guidelines and giving training staff gives them a better understanding of physical and cybercrime.

Updating passwords and pins

Nearly every business has password-protected devices which contain important and sensitive information, but most devices may have the same password. Tools such as Password managers can store multiple passwords in one secure place. Also, consider making it mandatory for staff to change their passwords every 90 days.

Evacuation plan:

Ensuring that your staff is safe during an emergency is important to avoid disastrous consequences. When creating an evacuation plan, think about keeping passageways to emergency exits clear, ensuring that there is the correct amount of fire exits on each floor and there is a safe meeting evacuation point. To avoid staff not knowing what to do in an emergency, regularly train them by running fire drills but also make them aware of who is the fire and safety officer and who is trained in first aid.

Alarm System:

Installing an alarm system is a sure way of dissuading trespassers and criminals from entering your property and can alarm you immediately. Regularly maintaining and checking your alarm system is working and updated to prevent criminal activity taking place, and make sure that the alarm system is certified by the Security Systems and Alarms Inspections Board.

Motion Sensor Lighting:

Having motion sensor lighting can help detect and catch intruders attempting to enter your business outside during the night. The light emanating from them can make intruders feel exposed and being caught in the act.  Whenever installing new security lighting, make sure that all cables are hidden and that switches/main boxes are hidden behind objects or underground.  Places that they are most effective are above entrances and exits, bushes and garden objects and shaded area’s that aren’t well lit.

Install reliable cybersecurity systems.

Technology such as computers, tablets, mobile phones and even cloud-based technology has helped businesses do more work quickly and efficiently. But with more business becoming more active online, they can become potential targets for cybercriminals trying to hack important information such as client information or bank details. Installing reliable cybersecurity systems can protect your systems from potential hacking and theft of important and sensitive documents. Ensuring that your business is safe and runs smoothly.

A&R Security Services provide a range of security options for offices – If you’re interested in finding out more visit our website or give us a call on 01656 713950