Firms urged to change mind-set about security

A security expert yesterday encouraged businesses and organizations to learn from major events in the past and change the mindset on security.

Stephen Cutler, Official Global Control Corporation (OGC Corp) President and CEO, said that a lot of lessons could be learned from the series of 9/11 attacks in New York City in 2001.

Cutler discussed disaster preparedness and business recovery during yesterday’s 5th Philippine Society for Industrial Security (PSIS) National Convention at Waterfront Lahug Hotel.

Cutler, a former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Asia-Pacific chief, said in countries like the Philippines, security would be always the first area to be cut back during severe economic hardships.

He called on the experts to make security as a contributor instead of a hindrance to profitability.

He also said that investment for security is not just a wallet issue but a change of mind-set.

“We, as security people at PSIS and as business leaders, we could help SMEs, the major companies, the Accentures, the Ayala integrate that state of security, that mind-set into the way they do business into the saving lives,” he said.

Dr. Lorifel Go, who tackled workplace violence said that the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had no specific data on the topic.

She defined workplace as any location either permanent or temporary where an employee performs work-related duty.

Go said that different forms of workplace violence include harassment of any nature, intimidation, psychological trauma and threats.

She said forming a crisis management team was a way to prevent workplace violence. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus