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Tips for staying safe whilst working late

Sometimes working late hours at the office is simply unavoidable. With an increase in flexible working and some serviced office providers now offering workers 24 hour access, more and more of us are working later hours.

An office with a city-centre location has many benefits, but they can also present risks. Take London Liverpool Street for example, a thriving area that attracts both domestic and international businesses for obvious reasons. In May 2016 alone there were 248 muggings and 102 cases of vehicle crime. This doesn’t it make the area any less attractive to businesses, but it does mean employees need to take proper precautions when leaving the office.

Know the law

Or more importantly, make sure your entire office knows the law. Employers have a legal duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSW Act) to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees at the workplace.

Whilst you’re in the office, you should know your company’s emergency exit strategy. If your business doesn’t have one you ought to raise your concerns to your manager. Similarly, all office windows and doors should not only be locked, but lockable in the first place.

Let someone know you’re working late

Ideally staff working late will do so in multiple numbers; this process is called ‘buddying up’. Creating a buddy system for walking to and from the company car park, or to public transportation, can help you and your colleagues stay safe whilst leaving work.

This involves planning in advance and may not always possible. However, if you are working late make sure people are aware of your whereabouts, whether that’s family members, friends or colleagues.

Most office buildings should have security guards or security measures in place. Check the security in your workplace before staying late.

Identify strangers

Anyone visiting or making a delivery to your office should be properly identified before you open the door. If you own the company, you should assess the company’s vulnerability to all kinds of crime, particularly burglary. Follow basic crime prevention principles, and work with local law enforcement to protect yourself, your business and your office.

Prepare your exit from the office

Research shows that men are less likely to feel at risk and the decisions and choices they make are less likely to be restricted by fears or concerns over their personal safety. Even when you think you are not at risk, do not become complacent.

Keep your phone near you at all times. Try to avoid walking alone in the facility, but if you must, carry your mobile without advertising it.

Use technology

Walking around dimly lit streets with your smartphone lit up like a beacon is going to make you an easy target. However, if you are worried about walking home from the office, you can use technology to your advantage.

Download an app that tracks your whereabouts and shares it with a friend or loved one. Apps like bSafe offer an audible alarm and immediately starts broadcasting video captured by your phone and your GPS location should you feel you’re in trouble.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Caitlyn Stevens .