Bad weather can change an otherwise familiar security post. A sheltered entrance may become exposed to wind-driven rain, an external route may ice over, or a warm gatehouse may become uncomfortable during hot weather. The site briefing needs to account for those changes before temporary cover starts.
NJProtection & Security Services lists shift cover, door cover and secure area manning among its services across West Yorkshire. If a planned post involves an entrance, gate or outdoor area, the business arranging cover should review the conditions as well as the usual duties.
Check the forecast and warning detail
Use the official Met Office forecast for the location and shift times. If a weather warning applies, read the full warning rather than relying on its colour. The Met Office explains that warning colours combine expected impact with the likelihood of that impact, and that yellow and amber warnings can cover a range of situations.
Record what was checked and when. Forecasts and warnings can change, so name the person who will review an update and decide whether the post, route or hours need to change.
Review the post, not just the shift
Walk through the planned working area before handover. The person arranging cover should confirm:
- which duties are indoors, outdoors or split between the two;
- whether the usual entrance and walking routes remain suitable;
- where the officer can take agreed rest breaks and get warm or cool;
- how drinking water and welfare facilities can be reached;
- what changes if part of the site closes or becomes unsafe; and
- who has authority to move, pause or change a duty.
Do not use cover as a substitute for fixing an unsafe area
A security booking does not make an unsafe route or post suitable. The responsible site manager should remove or control the hazard, restrict the area where necessary and give clear instructions about any revised route.
Plan for heat and cold
HSE guidance says outdoor weather can seriously affect health when risks are not managed. Its suggested controls for cold conditions include suitable personal protective equipment, somewhere to warm up and more frequent rest breaks. For hot conditions, it advises access to drinking water, shade and more frequent breaks, with work moved to cooler times where appropriate.
Turn that guidance into arrangements for the actual post. Agree the break location, cover for any essential position during a break, access to water and any task-specific clothing or equipment before the shift. Do not leave these points for the officer to discover after arrival.
Deal with rain, ice and wind before handover
Check the designated entrance, steps, paths and other working areas for standing water, ice, poor visibility or loose items. The site team should treat, repair, secure or close affected areas as its own procedures require. If the normal route changes, give the officer the approved alternative and tell other relevant staff.
Keep the security duties within the agreed role. Moving heavy objects, clearing snow, working at height or carrying out maintenance should not be added informally because the weather has changed.
Confirm lone working arrangements
Some security posts involve working without close or direct supervision. HSE says employers must manage health and safety risks before people work alone, and that this applies to people contracted to work for them, including self-employed people.
The briefing should name a site contact, set a proportionate check-in arrangement and explain what to do if communications fail or conditions deteriorate. The officer also needs the site’s emergency information and a clear route for reporting an urgent concern. If the post runs overnight, the separate guide on fatigue, welfare and site support for overnight security cover adds further checks.
Use a written bad weather briefing
A short written briefing reduces the chance of an important change being passed on informally or missed at handover.
- Give the site address, shift times and exact post location.
- Describe the agreed duties and any limits on the role.
- Note the forecast or warning checked for the shift.
- Identify any closed area or approved alternative route.
- Confirm the rest area, drinking water and welfare access.
- List any site-provided equipment and who checked it.
- Name the site contact and backup contact.
- Set the lone worker check-in and missed contact procedure.
- Explain who can change or pause the duty.
- Give the reporting route for incidents, hazards and near misses.
Keep the plan live during the shift
The named site contact should pass on material changes rather than assuming the officer has seen a new forecast or warning. If conditions alter the agreed post, the responsible manager should reassess the arrangement and record the decision.
After the shift, review any reported hazard, near miss, welfare problem or change of route. That record can help the business improve its own risk assessment and briefing before the next period of bad weather.
Sources and further reading
- NJProtection & Security Services: current services and West Yorkshire coverage.
- Met Office weather warnings guide: how official warnings describe likelihood and impact.
- HSE guidance on managing risks and risk assessment at work: the employer’s risk management duties.
- HSE guidance on outdoor working: practical controls for hot and cold conditions.
- HSE guidance on protecting people who work alone: risk management for lone and contracted workers.
Discuss temporary security cover
Send the date, times, West Yorkshire location and type of cover required. Include any outdoor duties and known weather-related changes so the enquiry can be considered against the role and availability.