In two recent Integrated Security blog posts: https://intesecurity.com/property-managers-and-risk-management-best-practices/ and https://intesecurity.com/when-asking-too-few-questions-increases-your-liability-how-your-security-provider-is-putting-you-at-risk/ we explored the correlation between the failure to apply best property management practices and how selecting the wrong security company can greatly fail ownership, their constituents, place lives at greater risk and decrease the possibility of surviving a security and safety event.
In a recent New York Times article written by Patricia Mazzei and Mike Baker One Button Might Have Saved Lives In Florida Condo Disaster, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23/us/surfside-condo-collapse-alarm.html the article goes on to discuss the one year anniversary of the condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida.
Microsoft StreetSide, CC BY-SA 4.0
This article does not delve into the structural reasons for the collapse at the Champlain Towers South Condominium and neither will we, but rather focuses on actions of the lobby’s security guard, and specifically the lack of training which could have saved lives. The properties contract security company was Securitas USA.
Before we launch into this topic, as readers I think it’s important you understand just who Securitas USA is and why amongst several factors the tragedy at the Champlain Towers could have been averted.
According to their website Securitas USA is described, “as The Leader in Protective Services, has 90,000 employees and helps organizations of all sizes and markets achieve superior security programs and results”
Wikipedia describes Securitas AB as, a security services, monitoring, consulting, and investigation group, based in Stockholm, Sweden. The group has over 300,000 employees in 53 countries worldwide. Securitas AB is listed at Nasdaq OMX Stockholm, Large Cap segment. This company ranks in the top 3 security guard service companies in the world based solely on guard hours.
The facts
On June 23, 2021, with four months on the job and limited on-site training, Security Officer Shamoka Furman on duty at the Champlain Towers failed to make the most critical decision of her career and possibly life. As the subsequent civil lawsuits were filed, depositions and statements taken, Officer Shamoka and her immediate supervisor at Securitas would confirm, no officer assigned to this property was trained on how to use the property’s life safety system. In fact, under direct examination by plaintiff’s counsel, this same security supervisor implied that it was not Securitas’s responsibility but that of the HOA [homeowners association] to create the security protocols. This was interpreted by the court to mean on-site training. In counsels’ final question to this witness he asked, do you agree with me that a reasonable security company should train its officers on how to use a system that can notify all the residents of an impending disaster? My response would have been, reasonable-No, mandatory-Absolutely. This supervisor responded in the affirmative.
So, at approximately 1:15 am with signs of a catastrophic building collapse only seven minutes away, Officer Furman didn’t know how to activate the building’s life safety warning system. Counsel got to show by using a simulated life safety system with audible warning, when activated lives could have been saved. But for a lack of training, with lobby security at the controls, all that was needed to activate the system was a single push of a button and the knowledge when to use it. In all fairness to Officer Shamoka, she did place a 911 call after realizing the pool deck was collapsing, even though that call and subsequent police response would serve no purpose in saving lives.
A judge gave the approval to a more than $1 billion settlement with Securitas paying the largest portion of $500 million. In the civil law this is often referred to as gross negligence.
As industry professionals, Integrated Security Services has over 27 years of security and safety service experience, Integrated Security Services and our staff of safety consultants often observe how very intelligent managers and owners make very poor decisions when it comes to life safety matters and their Security provider. Whether it’s dummy mounted CCTV cameras creating a false sense of security around areas that would benefit by digital surveillance and monitoring, poorly light common areas like parking garages, emergency hallways and doors blocked or worse, locked from direct access and staffing undertrained and unqualified security officers, there is no reasonable excuse these assets are not receiving the best possible opportunity to withstand a security and safety incident. Security companies have an implicit duty and responsibility to make their clients aware of all the underlying conditions that could impact on the performance of their security officers and technology. Officer Shamoka, while clearly surviving this tragedy, is nonetheless a victim who will most likely carry the guilt of what she could have done to help save lives with her for a very long time.
While there is enough blame to spread around, until all parties, security companies and their clients begin treat security and safety as a respectable engineered process, which to perform at its best must consider the various complex layers that form a successful solution, history is destined to repeat itself. Security professionals who study the art of survival understand that each layer adds a unique value, at times autonomous, but more often co-dependent on the other and buys time to make informed decisions.
What the collapse of the Champlain Towers has shown all of us is security officers deserve to work for companies that see their uniform as more than billable hours to a client. Protecting and serving demands dedicated training and leadership. Clients recognize that often life and death decisions come in 7 minutes or less.
The professionally trained staff at Integrated Security Services are always ready to answer and assist with all your property security needs. Working with HOA’s, Property Managers and Facility Directors, Integrated Security Services can help you arrive at a clear path to improving your property’s likelihood of surviving a wide range of emergencies. Conducting in-depth risk and vulnerability assessments provides valuable intelligence and tools to make needed improvements. We can always be reached at www.intesecurity.com or at our toll free 24/7 operation center at 888-808-9119.
Footnotes:
Mazzei, Patricia & Baker, Mike: One Button Might Have Saved Lives in Florida Condo Disaster, www.nytimes.com/2022/06/23
