Securitas is a global security leader; we have been around since 1934 and our presence in 58 countries allows us to draw on the skills and experience of teams around the world.

Some of these teams have been dealing with the Covid-19 outbreak far earlier than South Africa. Our global footprint also makes it essential to adhere to international best practice. Our aim is to continue to provide safety and security to all our clients and to our wider communities.

In these unprecedented times of COVID-19 Securitas has created COVID-19 business continuity plans and global policies to ensure we adhere to international standards of healthcare in the interests and health of our employees, clients and the public that we interact with.  These policies are based on guidance and recommendations made by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and locally in South Africa – the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), The National Department of Health.

The unanimous consensus among these institutions regarding masks is to restrict use thereof, unless you are sick or are caring for someone who is sick. Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.

Regarding gloves, the recommendation is against the use, as gloves are never a substitute for proper handwashing; in fact wearing gloves sometimes gives workers a false sense of security and results in workers not washing hands at all. Further, as the use of gloves does not promote good hygiene practices they can become a carrier for microbiological contaminants.

An exception to the above, and as a result of misinformation, we are in fact issuing masks to drivers in vehicles only if more than one person is in a vehicle. This is as a result of information circulating that SAPS and agencies who are enforcing the Lockdown Procedures at roadblocks will be enforcing this, and regardless of the instruction being contrary to most health authorities, we do not believe it is advisable for our staff to have to negotiate these points with policing authorities under the circumstances.

We have spent a great deal of time educating and training our staff around our policy hygiene guidelines. Our managers are in daily communication with all our employees, reminding them about the importance of good hygiene and that they must follow all prescribed guidelines, emphasising methods to prevent themselves from being infected as well as methods to reduce the spread of infection.

We are reinforcing good hygiene practices at all our Securitas premises and on-sites, and making sure handwashing facilities, sanitisers, hand gels and antiseptic wipes are readily available to all our officers.

We are confident the measures put in place are in line with international standards and are the most effective measures in the best interests of our employees and the public, as well as the healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of this pandemic.

Ashleigh Parry  | Country President