How to Train People to Listen to Alarms

The best way to get people to take safety alarms seriously is to reduce the number of false alarms.

By Scott Berinato

March 01, 2007 — CSO —

The best way to get people to take safety alarms seriously is to reduce the number of false alarms. Here are some tips you can share with HR and building managers.

1. Train everyone with access to alarm systems. Training should document any changes to the alarm system, including access code changes and technology additions. These employees need to know which doors are designated entrances and exits and the proper open and close procedures for each of them. Emphasize the importance of pre-arming checks, walk-throughs to ensure the building is secure before the system is armed. Practice canceling accidental alarm activations.

2. Be careful at holiday time. False alarms increase during the holidays because of parties and the greater number of temporary employees and visitors who accidentally set off alarms. Make sure temps are aware of the alarm systems and how they work. Avoid placing decorations near alarm system motion detectors.

3. Use the right kind of alarm in the right spot. Chronic false alarms often stem from the misapplication of technology. Motion detection systems have modernized surveillance systems, but it's important to invest in motion detection that can distinguish between harmless objects (such as birds or wind-borne debris) and prowlers, vandals or bears. If you can't afford that, then place these and other sensors carefully. For example, floor-mounted contacts are a bad fit for spaces with roll-up doors; use an alternative, such as track-mounted contacts on both sides of the door, with the alarms placed at different heights to reduce false alarms caused by something banging into the door.

4. Create standard operating procedures. SOPs reduce false alarms by limiting situations that could set off alarms. Procedures such as changing codes, arming codes, canceling false alarms, detailing when and how to contact authorities or the alarm monitoring service, performing system maintenance—all of these should happen the same way every time. Ongoing training creates SOPs. Consult the Security Industry Association (www.siaonline.org) for false alarm prevention standards.

Source: "How to Get People to Take Alarms Seriously"