No matter what your intentions are, it can be difficult to avoid sitting.
We sit during morning and evening commutes, while attending meetings and sending emails, and at home to relax or socialize. But even if your job keeps you tied to a desk most of the day, it’s important to keep moving—a sedentary lifestyle has been linked to heart disease, diabetes, obesity, poor circulation, loss of muscle and hypertension and other health risks. Even worse, people who sit the majority of each day are at increased risk even if they exercise in the evening!
But that all sounds a little bleak. Let’s stay motivated by focusing on the positive. You’ll see huge health benefits when consistent activity is part of your daily routine!
Exercise makes you less grouchy by releasing mood-enhancing endorphins into your bloodstream.
You boost your energy level all day long by sending more oxygen and nutrients to your muscle tissues and enhancing your cardiovascular endurance.
You sharpen your focus and improve your memory. Exercise sends more oxygen to your brain than sitting around. In turn, that oxygen boosts production of cells in the hippocampus, aiding your ability to retain information.
Lose weight by simply adding steps or activity minutes to your day. Frequent short walks are a great complement to a balanced diet and high-intensity workouts, which can be more sporadic. But that all sounds a little bleak. Let’s stay motivated by focusing on the positive. You’ll see huge health benefits when consistent activity is part of your daily routine!
Exercise reduces stress by increasing the amount of norepinephrine in your body, a chemical that helps moderate your brain’s response to stress and difficult situations. (It’s also a hard word to say three times fast.)
By Angus Wilson, Director of Aviation Services
To put it simply, a code of conduct lets everyone know how we are all expected to behave. There are several reasons why we have a code of conduct, including:
It encourages ethical behavior.
It makes your work environment a better place to work.
There can be long-term success for employees and the business.
Shows customers and other companies you have integrity.
What’s included in a code of conduct? There are several different areas that are addressed in ASP’s code of conduct. Some of the most common elements are:
Integrity—Integrity is how you react in any ethical situations, especially when it involves a customer.
Teamwork—Including teamwork in what you do enables you to act and interact within a group and support your fellow colleagues.
Respect—Everyone who interacts with you deserves to be treated with respect.
Innovation—You always want to be improving your customer experience.
Client focus—Ensure you know how you expect your customers to be treated.
Our reputation is an asset that reflects personally on every employee. Therefore, each Manager, Supervisor and employee has an obligation to protect our reputation and must abide by the highest standards of honesty and integrity. Everyone is expected to know, understand, and adhere to Company practices to protect the best interests of the Company and individuals within it. We expect you to respect the rights and feelings of others and demonstrate personal integrity and professionalism.
In conducting our daily business and striving to meet our goals we must ensure that we abide by the following principles:
By Petra Nash, Executive Assistant
Social media networks are now a substantial part of every business in one way or another, and the benefits of using social media are great.
Social Media provides increased brand awareness. It is the most cost-effective digital method used to syndicate content and increase business visibility. When a company implements a social media strategy it ultimately increases the brand recognition.
Every post made on a social media platform opens up a world of new contacts you can connect with. Posting three times a week lets employees and clients learn more about your business. Whether it is available career opportunities, new initiatives, or a motivational quote, social media will allow you to get your message to your following in just minutes.
Unlike awkward phone calls or lengthy emails, social media can also be beneficial when it comes to customer service. In a business where customer service is a high priority, having social media as a platform to connect with employees and clients lets us resolve any questions more efficiently. This leaves the employee happy, which in turn allows for better customer service. Providing quick and responsive posts on social media can not only answer a question an employee was asking, but it can also help someone who is frustrated. A quick get-to-the- point answer may increase your customer service meter.
Employees and clients are always looking for new updates from the companies they follow. By providing consistent, concise and credible updates, our following will strengthen and expand. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for updates on employment opportunities, employee engagement, ASP activities etc.
By Jim Catney, Vice-President, Aviation and Transportation
The ASP brand is continuing to develop and grow. When this organization started in 2001, the focus was on airside security requirements at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Now, our company is responsible for so much
more; not just for aviation security and
customer service in Toronto and other airports,
but also at major arenas and stages, critical
business structures and even your children’s
daily crossing to and from school in two major
areas of Toronto.
Each of these contracts has required specific technical elements and customization – that’s what helps us to get new business. But just as important as getting additional work is keeping it, and we do this by knowing our customers.
We know that our customers value attention to
detail, dependability, promptness and
competence. We know that they also want
information shared readily and they want to
know that we are doing all that we can to excel
in the service we provide.
As Vice-President at ASP, I want to remind all
of our employees that our customers aren’t just
our external clients and their
passengers/guests/tenants etc. We are each
other’s customers. Your co-workers are your
internal customers. Your peers want
dependable colleagues who share information
and treat each other with respect and
understanding. The more that we can foster
this culture in our own company, the better we
will be at providing this to our external clients. I
encourage you to consider this as you arrive to
work each day and I promise that you will feel
the positive returns from this effort.
How to Hire the Right Commercial Security Guard Company
Waiting to secure your property can lead to increased liability if a breach happens. Don’t wait. Here’s what to look for in a good security guard company.
If you own commercial property, you understand the value of protecting its assets. You want to make the most of your investments, of course. That’s why you’re looking into hiring a qualified security guard company to protect your property.
In fact, you’re not alone in that regard. Statistics show that private security forces outnumber police throughout the world. In other words, many businesses prefer to hire security to keep their assets safe.
Still, there are a lot of ins and outs to navigate when choosing the ideal commercial security company to hire. You want to ensure you’re working with highly trained, reliable security guards.
Well, the good news is that you’ve come to the right place by reading this article. Detailed below is everything you need to know about finding and choosing the ideal commercial security company. Don’t take the chance of leaving your property assets and investments unprotected.
Start By Doing Plenty of Online Research
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there are a variety of security companies out there. It’s up to you, though, to find the most reliable service in your area to hire.
After all, consider the fact that the security services industry boasts of a $29 billion market throughout the United States. In other words, private security is no small consideration if you want to keep your property safe. In fact, investing in proper security measures will help to keep you ahead of any local competitors.
The first thing you should do, then, is to check out a potential security company’s online presence. To start, evaluate their website. Is it quick to load with engaging, useful content?
Instead, does it take forever to load, and is it boring? Believe it or not, you can tell a lot about a company from their website. Everyone needs a well-developed one if they want to succeed these days.
If they don’t take the time to make the most of their website design, they might not be worth your time. It’s clear that they don’t value their business or its marketing strategies.
Next, take a look at their social media presence. Is it evident that they engage with their social followers on a regular basis? If that’s the case, you can trust that they have a genuine concern for their customers’ interests.
Last, don’t forget about any online reviews from previous clients. It’s now easy for anyone to post about both positive and negative reviews concerning a business. Looking into that will help you determine if a security company meets the standards of excellence you’re looking for.
Investigate a Potential Security Company’s Training Practices
Of course, it’s no secret that a proper team of security guards needs to be well-trained. That’s why you should take the time to evaluate a security company’s training regime.
Your security team, after all, should be able to respond to pretty much any emergency situation. Whether there’s a medical emergency or a natural disaster, you want to rely on your security force at all times. For more detailed specifics, check out this information on proper security guard training practices.
Ask Other Business Owners in Your Area for Advice
Businesses within all industries invest in security services for a variety of reasons. If you’ve established relationships with business owners in your area, talk to them about their team of security.
For example, what are their favorite qualities about the security company they currently employ? Have they had any negative experiences with a security force in the past? If you ask enough questions, you can find a wealth of information concerning security companies in town.
A Security Guard Company Should Have Excellent Customer Service
At the end of the day, you want to feel as though you’re respected and valued by your security team. As soon as you reach out to a potential security company, how do you feel you’re being treated?
For instance, is the company making you feel as though you’re a waste of their time? Instead, do they treat you like you’re their top priority every time you reach out? You deserve to work with a security company who’s friendly and readily available.
Check Into the Security Company’s Insurance Policy
It’s an unfortunate truth that accidents do sometimes happen. That’s why you need to take the opportunity before you hire a security company to ask about their insurance policy.
Sometimes, security guards can get injured on the job. In these situations, you want to be very clear about your own business’s liability ahead of time. For that reason, it’s a good idea to have a thorough discussion with your potential security team before signing any contract.
The common security force insurance policy will cover them for up to a million dollars. Anything less than that might get you in over your head in the case of an accident.
Invest in the Best Security Guard Company Near You
At this point in the article, you should feel confident hiring a commercial security company. There’s no need to cut corners when it comes to protecting your property and its assets.
That’s why you’re ready to invest in a professional, well-trained security guard company. Doing so will ensure that no matter what time of day it is, your property is safe and secure. After all, you deserve the peace of mind that comes from knowing your investments will last through the years.
Don’t just leave it to chance, then. It’s not a good idea to merely hope that your commercial property doesn’t get vandalized or robbed. Instead, take the next step and hire a qualified security team to ensure its integrity on your behalf.
In fact, that’s where we can come into play. We’ve established a reliable reputation as a security guard company with our clients’ best interests in mind. That’s why we make sure our team of security guards is properly trained for the top practices in asset protection.
In other words, you can trust us to manage the safety of your property. For more information, read about our commercial security services on our website today.
Looking for a way to improve your airport’s security? Then check out our guide to help you follow safety regulations while preserving your customer’s experience.
Are you confident that those who pass through your facility are properly screened? With so many people to screen, it’s sometimes hard to provide a safe and secure environment.
You need the expertise to cover your airport security needs. This is true whether you’re looking to protect your facility or control access to airside areas.
7 Tips for Improving Airport Security
The Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) regulates the aviation industry. However, they certify private companies to provide screening services. You need a company that implements screening systems effectively.
Provide your employees and customers with peace of mind with these 7 tips for improving airport security.
1. Perform a Security Audit First things first, perform a security audit at your facility to see what is and isn’t working.
Hire a security expert to identify specific security challenges related to your organization. This will give them an understanding of your security needs.
Based on the vulnerability assessment, you will receive a report. This will contain inspections, evaluations, and recommendations. These will cover all security processes that take place on your property.
A security audit typically includes:
A comprehensive assessment of your facility and grounds.
A technology analysis (of all existing technology).
An understanding of existing security procedures and any emergency plans.
Analyzing all keys and locks.
Examining current asset protection strategies.
You will then have an acute understanding of your key opportunities for improvement. Then you’re able to create a detailed security plan or solution. This will complement or replace any existing procedures.
2. Review Security Videotapes Besides an audit, regularly review your security videotapes.
One benefit of increased security is reducing checkpoint confrontation. Whether it’s between passengers or a passenger and employee, situations can escalate quickly in screening lanes.
Understanding how these confrontations happen is the first step toward employee development. So, reviewing your tape and studying these instances can provide excellent training opportunities.
Security tapes are also used in defending against personal injury lawsuits or insurance claims. The best evidence is always video. Reviewing them often will familiarize your employees with what’s occurring regularly in their respective areas.
3. Use Canine Explosive Dog Detection Canine Explosive Dog Detection (EDD) solves the detection of explosives and trace elements of explosives.
EDD teams provide a specialized response to threats, which allows them to detect dangerous materials. This allows your facility operations to continue running smoothly, with less interruption.
EDD canines are trained to operate in remote and heavily populated areas, which makes them perfect to implement into airport security. They can even work on air crafts.
These dogs can work in all weather, including cold, rain, and extreme heat. Their bond with their trainers creates conditions for optimal performance.
4. Hire Trained Staff The best aviation security providers will subject their employees to high-quality training programs.
Any training procedure should include customized training procedures for your facility. Staff should be trained on the assessment of risks, security equipment and devices, and quality control. This is the minimum training that should be provided to successful security staff.
You want your security personnel ready to go above and beyond what is required by law.
5. Improve Screening Lanes Body scanners are widely used in airport security, but they are slow, not always accurate, and may raise health concerns.
Many experts agree that pat-downs and body scanners are best saved for random additional checks. This will save time in addition to the installation of automatic luggage lanes.
These new lanes capture images of luggage and other items before they go through an X-ray scanner. As bags are identified as potentially threatening, they are redirected to a separate lane. This improves wait times as the flow of bags and passengers continues in the main lane.
Not only does improving your screening lane streamline your security efforts, but it increases customer satisfaction, too. It provides your passengers with an expedited, comfortable screening process.
6. Implement Mobile Patrol The perimeter of your facility should be as safe as the areas inside. Consider adding fully marked security vehicles that travel the perimeter of your facility on a pre-determined or random schedule.
Mobile patrol units are a cost-effective solution at locations where full-time security personnel are unnecessary. They’re constantly on the move which means they’re ready to step into action.
If your security isn’t mobile, there could be holes in your security coverage. Using vehicles to patrol the perimeter of your property means you can protect more area.
Mobile patrols also deter visible crime. Their presence will ensure that potential criminals know that your facility is not an easy target.
7. Add Pre-Security Checkpoints Consider adding security checkpoints before your customers get to screening lanes.
Passengers are not the only threats to aviation facilities. You need to be wary of those on the outside and employees. Simple ID checks at various locations throughout your facility can reduce potential threats.
Additional pre-security checkpoints provide an opportunity to expedite the screening process.
Your Trusted Security Partner With so many passengers passing through your doors, you need a competent and diligent security provider.
The right security partnership will ensure positive customer experiences and the utmost protection of your people and assets.
We will adapt or change our plans to provide solutions to your airport security challenges. Our experience allows us to quickly respond to changing needs and new laws more effectively.
Trust us to expect potential issues and threats. We’ll do the research to meet the unique needs of your facility. And as we learn, we’ll share the data and translate it for you and your employees.
We deliver a top-notch, customer-oriented approach to airport security. Contact us today to discuss your needs.
Security gates at the entrance of airport
5 Security Guard Requirements You Should Make When Hiring Security
Are you interested in hiring security personnel for your business? Here are some security guard requirements you should have for the role.
If you are thinking about hiring a security guard, then you’ll want to be sure to pick the right candidate. The security guard industry often gets a bad rep, and security guards are often unfairly labeled as professional thugs. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, security guards can be very generous.
Of course, as a business, your number one priority is to ensure that your venue is protected and your guests feel safe but you also want to employ someone who is professional and good at de-escalating tricky situations.
Here are some must-have security guard requirements.
No Criminal Record: It would be wrong to say that anyone with a criminal record is automatically going to do a bad job. As a business, you have to be tough and think about your reputation and image.
If you hire someone with a violent criminal record, you don’t want a court to take the view that the decision to employ a security guard with a prior criminal record amounted to negligence.
Degree: A college degree can be a real plus in terms of security guard skills. It suggests that the candidate has strong critical thinking skills, and they are able to process information and evaluate a situation logically.
This added intelligence can be a real bonus to your business when you need it most. If a situation does escalate, you don’t want to employ physical contact as some security guards do to remove someone. This should always be the last resort.
Instead, you want someone who can think creatively about different ways to deescalate a situation. Someone with a college degree might be more equipped with the skills to be able to do this.
This is one of the most overlooked security skills and one you should consider carefully even if it means paying the candidate with a college degree a higher salary.
Security Guard Training: This is an integral part of any security guard application. The qualifications vary from state-to-state, and there is no countrywide certificate. Many colleges offer their own qualifications so you should consider accepting these as they often cover the basics such as first aid, disaster response, and other emergencies.
However, most security guards should have a license, particularly if they are going to be carrying firearms. In order to get this, a security guard must have passed a drug test, a criminal background check, and there might be an element of studying involved. Remember we offer new employee training.
Physically Fit: Of course, as well as having a great problem-solving ability and people skills, a security guard must also be physically adept so they can respond to situations when appropriate. This is one of the most important security officer skills.
You can set your own fitness tests to test their stamina and could make attending the gym three times a week a requirement of their contract. If the security guard is going to be part of a larger team, you could ask current employees to put them through their passes.
Key questions to ask them during their interview include asking them how many times a week they go to the gym.
Experience and Training: Another key aspect of any security guard skill is the experience. No amount of qualifications can account for experience in dealing with the security for different venues.
Whilst of course you can offer on-the-job training to all of your new employees, you want anyone you employ to have had experience in the security for a similar venue.
If yours is one of the busiest nightclubs in town, then hiring someone who has experience of handling the security for a small bank or as personal security for one individual might not be the best option.
This is because the two roles require very different skill sets. A night club involves dealing with people heavily intoxicated and large crowds of people and breaking up fights.
Being the personal security for one person involves having eyes on one person at all times and remaining vigilant rather than being an expert in crowd management. Someone who has been a security guard for one individual might also not be as used to working in a team of people.
Security Guard Requirements: Be Sure You Know What You Want: A security guard is a broad term and because every venue and every situation where a security guard might be employed is different. You are going to want to be sure that you employ the right person.
To do this you need to ensure that they are physically fit and have been put through their paces. Be wary of employing anyone with a criminal record to protect the image of your establishment and to avoid any potential litigation that could ensue as a result.
Consider whether one of the security guard requirements should be a college degree so that your future employee has the logical and reasoning skills to be able to de-escalate situations at short notice rather than to always respond physically.
In terms of security guard qualifications, you need to ensure they undertook thorough training and that their training provider was reputable. Skills like first aid and disaster response should have been included.
If you are interested in hiring a security guard, be sure to check out our services to see how we can help.
ICTS General Services, an ICTS Europe subsidiary in Spain, has recently won a new contract with Terminal Catalunya S.A.U, for the provision of security services at the Port of Barcelona.
This 2-year contract will see ICTS providing 24/7 control room monitoring, as well as access control and patrolling of the Hutchison Ports BEST Terminal, one of the most modern container terminals in the world.
“The Hutchison Ports BEST is a semi-automated terminal, with a very high productivity rate and expansion plans for the coming years. For many years now, ICTS has provided similar security services at the Ports of Malaga and Mallorca and is looking forward to supporting Terminal Catalunya S.A.U.’s business plans.
The award of this prestigious contract increases our presence at the Port of Barcelona, as we already secure Barcelona’s Cruise Port Terminal. Hutchison is a very welcome addition to our client portfolio, and we are proud to have been entrusted with this new contract,” said Ofer Barder, General Manager, ICTS General Services.
ACTS-Aviation Security has just commenced a brand-new contract with Dallas- based Southwest Airlines for the provision of catering inspection services of crew meals at Florida’s Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale International Airports.
ACTS, ICTS Europe’s subsidiary in the U.S.A., now provides catering inspection services to 66 different Airlines at 30 Airports across the USA.
“Our reputation is founded upon years of hard work and ACTS’ values of teamwork and professionalism. We look forward to working closely with Southwest Airlines delivering a quality service the Client can rely on” said Tracy A. Fuller, Vice President – Technology & Solutions, ACTS.
By Mark Burnett, Canine Unit Manager - Trainer
With the ongoing development of a federal canine explosives detection program for air cargo, Transport Canada facilitated two weeks of canine trials at express shipping facilities at Pearson Airport in June, with the assistance of ASP Canine Unit members.
Our handlers were heavily relied on to assist with the management of the explosives training aids, and with working our dogs through the test areas in order to collect data to assist with the development of test procedures. Trial searches were set up in FedEx and UPS facilities to replicate the conditions the dogs would be expected to search in once federal regulations have been formalized.
ASP Canine Unit members were very well represented and our dog teams performed very well. Our members took the opportunity to showcase our dogs, as well as network with various representatives from express shipping companies and dog teams sent from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to participate.
ASP Canine will continue to be actively involved and play an important role in the creation of the federal EDDHT program with Transport Canada over the next 18 months or so that the program is expected to be under development.
