Locks and Security News: your weekly locks and security industry newsletter
17th April 2024 Issue no. 701

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SSAIB calls for COVID-19 Key Worker clarity for Security and Fire Safety personnel

The Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board (SSAIB) is the leading certification body for organisations providing security systems and services, fire detection and alarm systems, telecare systems and services, manned security services and monitoring services.

In this challenging time, with the closure of many business and the Prime Minister's statement to further restrict movement, it is important to ensure the vital national work that the private security industry firms carry out is recognised by the Government and that installers, maintainers, ARC operators and security guarding personnel are all designated as key workers.

SSAIB wrote to James Brokenshire, Minister of State for Security at the Home Office asking for Government's support for a very important sector of the British economy to ensure the safety and security of individuals and premises during this time of national crisis, by granting the industry Key Worker status. We are currently awaiting the Minister's reply to our letter.

We are aware that the other industry organisations, The British Security Industry Association (BSIA), the Fire Industry Association (FIA) and the Security Industry Authority (SIA) have also written to the Minister calling for clarification on the definition of a Key Worker.

James Brokenshire, Minister for State for Security at the Home Office has given a general statement as follows:

"Security & fire safety personnel can play a vital role at this time of national challenge. People working in these sectors who are essential to national infrastructure are "Key Workers" for the purposes of the Government's guidance on COVID-19."

The SIA have received a reply that key worker status does include regulated (Licence Holding) security professionals, essential to national infrastructure, operating in critical roles under the 8 broad heading listed by the Government (www.sia.homeoffice.gov.uk).

The FIA have received a reply from the Minister that "extends the Key Worker status to all fire safety personnel actively working to improve public fire safety." (www.fia.uk.com)

The NSI has also issued a press release supporting calls for security industry personnel to be designated as Key Workers, which the SSAIB supports - as it is important that all security industry organisations put forward a united front to the Government, to push for their support to our national vital industry.
It is vital to the national interest that the staff of registered firms certificated by UKAS-accredited certification bodies (e.g. SSAIB and NSI) working in the security and safety sectors are classed as Key Workers at this most difficult and challenging time.

SSAIB is actively monitoring the situation and we are liaising with other industry organisation to support and promote our industry during this time. We will strive to keep you informed of any new developments as and when they happen.

25th March 2020