Optimizing Guard Patrols

Security patrols, most commonly performed by foot patrol, are completed to maintain the security and safety of the premises, as an act of due diligence and for compliance purposes.

Patrols have designated checkpoint areas that the security guard must check/inspect in any order along their route. These checkpoints will dictate the guard’s path on the patrol, ensuring an effective sweep of the premises.

Guards will look for a variety of elements and circumstances, including:

• Suspicious activity
• Breach of access control
• Proper lighting
• Safety hazards such as slip, trip & fall hazards, obstructed stairwells, and more
• General housekeeping
• Noise levels
• Water leaks or damage
• And more….

Patrols are a vital component of a security guard's role, but they can take up a lot of time so you’ll want to ensure that the process is as optimal as possible.

📖 Optimization – the action of making the best or most effective use of a situation or resource.

Can guard patrols be optimized?

The checkpoints along a guard’s patrol can be quite extensive — digital solutions can help manage and ensure the checkpoints are visited and inspected. Digital inspections tools provide an overview of real-time inspection statuses so you always have a pulse on your facility's inspections, including those that are near-due, due, or overdue. Inspectors are also provided with the remaining checkpoints. The remaining checkpoints allow the guard to keep track of locations they still need to visit, allowing them to change up the patrol route so they’re not memorized by outsiders, while at the same time, ensuring that no locations are missed.

If deficiencies are found along the patrol route, inspectors can submit detailed notes and photos on the issue, and the appropriate personnel are instantly notified through automatic workflow, enabling a quick resolution.

Inspections of the checkpoint locations are time stamped, dated and indicate who they were performed by, contributing to strong documentation and due diligence; this also helps supervisors with performance management as it’s easy to see performance of individual contributors, such as those who frequently miss checkpoints.

Additional benefits of digital inspection tools for guard patrols include:

• Assistance finding locations through maps and pins, helping guards navigate large complexes or hard-to-find locations such as sub-levels.
• Inspection guidance so guards know what needs to be inspected at each location.
• Insights on patterns and trends through analytics — this can be helpful in identifying high-traffic areas, areas that require additional attention, seasonal issues, and staff scheduling.

The documentation process during and post-patrol are significantly optimized by digital inspection tools and provide many added benefits that pen & paper or pipe systems cannot provide, allowing for more time to be spent on critical responsibilities that enhance the safety of the facility.

If you think your guard patrols can be optimized by a digital solution, contact us at customerservice@tapreport.io for more information.

About Tap Report

Tap Report is a Canadian software company that provides a digital solution for managing workplace inspections, safety compliance, and operational reporting. It replaces manual processes, such as paper checklists and spreadsheets, with a mobile and web-based system that allows teams to complete inspections, capture data, and generate compliant reports.

Through an easy-to-use interface and automated workflows, Tap Report helps ensure that inspections are completed, deficiencies are categorized and tracked, and issues are escalated efficiently to the right people. It also offers analytics, customizable reporting, and integrations that helps organizations improve safety, compliance, and operational performance.

For more information, visit www.tapreport.io or contact us at customerservice@tapreport.io.