According to the Freight Transport Association’s Logistics Report for 2011, ‘truck crime is costing the logistics industry around GB pound 250 million every year through lost loads, damage to vehicles and injury to drivers’.
While many of these incidents may happen as vehicles are on the road, monitoring access to depots and head office sites is critical in terms of further enhancing the safety of operations. Mike Sussman, chairman of the BSIA’s Access Control Section of the BSIA, is keen to explain how access control systems can help out.
“Sites belonging to companies operating in the logistics and road transport industries are characterised by a transient population of staff, drivers and contractors, with many vehicles of all sizes requiring easy yet secured access to the premises.”
Sussman added: “Moreover, goods dealt with by these companies can range from high value products such as computers and IT equipment through to daily goods such as food and household materials. Ensuring access to sites is restricted solely to authorised people is pivotal when it comes to securing against threats such as theft, vandalism or, in more critical scenarios, tampering with products or vehicles for the purposes of terrorism or smuggling.”
Effective access control becomes critical
For this reason, implementing effective access control strategies becomes critical to the security of the sector.
“Access control systems are all designed to allow access only to people with the necessary authority, and to ensure that goods and staff are protected while also helping manage known or anticipated threats,” urged Sussman.
“They can vary from proximity card readers, smart cards or PIN pads to more sophisticated measures such as biometric systems, including finger print reading or iris scanning solutions, which are becoming increasingly popular for high security areas.”
The growing scope of the technology means that it can be flexibly employed to cover security functions, as well as to improve operational efficiency, monitor the through-flow of people and vehicles and provide Health and Safety support.
Based on recent developments, access control technology might even improve the energy efficiency of a site by allowing integrated energy management systems to determine the amount of heating required for an area based on its occupancy, as recorded by the access control system.
Better navigate the marketplace
“With so many options and capabilities offered by access control systems, the BSIA’s Access Control Guide aims to help the managers of businesses operating in the logistics sector better navigate the marketplace and fully understand how this flexible technology can help,” explained Sussman.
“Moreover, the BSIA Guide will bring attention to the importance of employing reliable security providers.”
Sussman stated that: “All BSIA members meet strict quality requirements, comply with industry regulations and standards and have a wealth of experience working with the logistics and road transport industry.” For this reason, he believes it is they who are best placed to provide advice and guidance, and will supply to users flexible and value-for-money solutions with longevity.
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