How to Protect Your People and Business Property During Times of Civil Unrest

During times of civil unrest, emergency resources to protect business property can become depleted. Blocked streets, large congregations of people or a lack of adequate resources can disrupt the ability to respond to emergencies. Authorities may become overwhelmed and only able to acknowledge reports of fires, looting and vandalism. Property damage can result from these events, particularly for buildings in congested areas or close in proximity. Businesses can take steps to protect their property if civil unrest is anticipated. Adequate planning and preparation can help businesses get the appropriate protections in place.

Preparation

• Develop, review and/or familiarise yourself with your emergency/ civil contingency plans which identify measures and resources that are needed to protect your people, property and equipment and to help minimise business interruption. Make sure that the action plans don’t place yourself or your employees in harm’s way.
• Engage with your local police authority if you may be targeted, to obtain their advice. Check news reports for any planned demonstrations.
• Risk assess your properties to determine which may be more at risk and to evaluate existing and additional protection measures that may be necessary.

Protect your people

• Communicate emergency plans to staff, including any invacuation and evacuation procedures. Ensure that contact details for all staff, including next of kin/emergency contacts are up to date.
• Advise staff to check news reports and invoke communication call trees/ message alerts if staff shouldn’t come in to work. Consider home working arrangements.
• Consider advising staff to wear casual clothing and not to wear identity badges or branded clothing in public if likely to be targeted.
• Remind staff to be aware of tailgating and consider additional security measures at entrances.
• Advise staff not to confront protestors.

Secure your property

Properties and other businesses can be subject to fire, looting and vandalism. Confirming that fire protection systems are in good working order and securing the building and utilities are key steps to help mitigate damage. Here are some measures to help protect your building:

• Where present ensure perimeter fencing is maintained and access gates secured, including during normal trading hours if appropriate. Secure all access points to prevent unauthorised access, including doors, windows, skylights, and roof access points.
• Move skips, containers or other large equipment that can be climbed to access the roof or upper floors, away from the building.
• Where possible, secure large windows with roll-down shutters, plywood boards or steel gates to help deter against projectiles and minimise any damage.
• If possible, keep waste bins in the building or don’t fill external bins if civil unrest is expected. Any external bins should be secured away from the property, either in a locked compound or by chaining to a secure post or fixture.
• To help prevent risk of damage from projectiles or fire, remove any waste, debris, combustible storage and unwanted vegetation from around the building.
• Ensure any exterior lighting is in good working order.
• Confirm that fire and security protection systems are in full working order.
• Ensure that security personnel remaining on-site are familiar with company emergency procedures and have a current directory of emergency contact numbers.

Reduce and remove inventory, target stock and business critical equipment

Businesses can take steps to either safeguard or remove things that are valuable and/or critical to their operations to a more secure location. First, identify valuable inventory, important records, critical machinery and other key business items that should be carefully protected. Then take steps to either secure these items onsite, or if possible, remove them offsite. Consider the following:

• Remove goods from display windows and show cabinets; secure high-value merchandise.
• Secure essential business records and maintain backups of all key information at another location.
• Move company vehicles offsite.
• Park vehicles that cannot be moved offsite in a manner which helps reduce the likelihood of vandalism.
• Lock interior areas with a high concentration of valuables, such as computer equipment, to prevent access.
• Additionally, it is good practice to inventory and photograph your property regularly to document the property before any damage occurs.

As part of your business continuity plan, thoughtfully consider and plan for the possibility of civil disturbance. Plan early and identify steps to help prepare and protect your property. Travelers customers can access the Risk Control team for guidance and advice, including business continuity planning resources.

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