BSI has revised BS 7960 Door supervision – Code of practice. The west London-based business standards company says that the updated standard gives recommendations for companies providing door supervision services, whether contracted or in-house, to licenses premises or events.
BS 7960:2016 was revised to accommodate changes in the legal requirements for door security staff. A “response to emergencies” section replaces the previous “contingency plan for security”, and a new threat level provides guidance for door staff on how to handle emergencies, whether giving first aid to a vulnerable person or responding to a terrorist attack or other large-scale emergency.
The revised standard has new requirements to identify and bring in violence reduction measures, and that SIA – Security Industry Authority – licenses are checked against SIA records at least once a month. Guidance notes also cover the Data Protection Act and SIA licence requirements when CCTV or other data recording devices are used.
To reflect the changing face of the labour market, BS 7960 now refers to the deployment rather than the employment of door personnel, as the individual may be under instruction of the company but paid by a third party. A new clause has also been added to ensure that the requirements of the standard are still met when the door security is working for a subcontractor.
Besides the public and private sector users of door supervisors, British Standards expects the standard to be relevant to security consultants, private investigators, and security dog users.
Anne Hayes, Head of Market Development for Governance and Resilience at BSI, said: “Professional door supervisors fulfil a crucial role not only in providing security for premises but in upholding the safety and well-being of individuals on their premises. In developing BS 7960, we worked closely with private security firms to ascertain what door security personnel need to do their job as safely and effectively as possible.”
BS 7960 now includes the 2013 legal requirement that all door staff secure an SIA Level 2 Award for Up-Skilling. In common with the standard it replaces, the private security industry was heavily involved in the development of BS 7960:2016. Those involved in the development of the standard included the trade body the British Security Industry Association (BSIA); the certification body the National Security Inspectorate (NSI); the sector regulator the Security Industry Authority (SIA); and the Proof of Age Standards Scheme (PASS). Visit www.bsigroup.com.
