Sarah Stone - Baig Security

Small Business Showcase – 2nd Annual Event

March 6, 2023March 8, 2023 by Sarah Stone, posted in Events, Uncategorized

Hi there! Baig Security is a security guard company in Ontario looking to run an online event to promote local small businesses on April 27th and 28th.

You’d be given a chance to talk about your business, what you do, and network with potential clients and other business owners. It’s free to sign your business up, all we ask is you promote the event on your socials and invite your network.

For all businesses that attend they will be automatically enrolled in a raffle for a 50 dollar amazon card.

Interested?

INCENTIVE

In order to have the highest attendance possible, we plan on having a raffle for businesses that attend and participate to win a 50 dollar amazon gift card. This creates an incentive for businesses to want to partake in the event and advertise the event.

For attendees, we plan on having around three 10 dollar gift cards that are up for raffle.

HOSTING

April 27th 12-3pm and 28th 3-5pm on Microsoft Teams

VALUE FOR BUSINESSES:

There are various positives that come from this event for the businesses attending, including networking opportunities, getting to meet potential clients, opportunities for growth, and increasing brand awareness. Opening oneself up to networking opportunities provides as a way to build connections with others in similar or related professions that can assist their company discover new clients, partners, and develop. Increasing brand awareness is important as it influences customers’ judgments while deciding between rival businesses.

VALUE FOR ATTENDEES:

For attendees, being present at the event allows them to support local businesses, receive offers or coupons from the attending businesses, the possibility of prizes, and webinars from local business influencers. Supporting local businesses demonstrates that attendees care about and are involved in the community’s well-being and future. Local businesses are more accountable to their communities and have a lesser carbon impact than larger corporations, which is excellent for the environment. Attending webinars from local business influencers allows attendees to learn about various topics that are often not taught in schools or elsewhere, like taxes 101 for small business or how to promote a business.

HOW TO PROMOTE:

We are planning on promoting through various platforms including linkedin, our website, and instagram. We also plan to include advertising the event in the newsletter. Through having the involved business and influencers promote on their socials and reach out to their networks, we are going to be able to reach a bigger audience.

Interested? Businesses sign up below

Just interested in attending?

https://teams.microsoft.com/registration/V8daRjEhEUe5o9gni1wLFA,IwkKZTNGo0eZzKtChXNS6A,AYtMZzOJXEmX-8D5KvgbDQ,iWoei00HwE2I6vS2sC4zdA,BWDdkmXbdkye9-Gdy-NqCg,9onjuAn8gE-agLjCt-Lzxw?mode=read&tenantId=465ac757-2131-4711-b9a3-d8278b5c0b14

First Burlington Chamber of Commerce Event

February 22, 2023February 22, 2023 by Sarah Stone, posted in Events

Pictured is President of Baig Security, Muhammad Baig and the Digital Design and Marketing Manager, Sarah Stone at Baig Security’s first Business after 5 event.

The event took place at Food For Life and was hosted by the Burlington Chamber of Commerce. We were given a tour of the facility and got to see a behind the scenes tour of how Food For Life works.

Sarah won two of the door prizes, one from Junk Professionals and the other from Laurie Insurance Group.

Announcing our New Manager of Operations

December 28, 2022December 28, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Uncategorized

We are excited to announce a new addition to the Baig Security Team! Andrew Baker is our Manager of Operations.

Andrew is 28. He attended Wilfrid Laurier from 2015-2017 where he earned a bachelors of criminology.

He then went on to attend the University of California in Los Angeles to get his Masters in Criminal Justice Studies and Homeland Security.

Check him out on his socials!

Small Business Showcase Recap

July 11, 2022July 11, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Business Tips

For everyone who missed our showcase!

Small Business Showcase

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Business Tips

Hi there! Baig Security is a security guard company in Ontario looking to run an online event to promote local small businesses on July 7th from 2pm-5pm.

For all businesses that attend they will be automatically enrolled in a raffle for a 50 dollar amazon card.

Interested?

Incentive

For attendees, we plan on having around three 10 dollar gift cards that are up for raffle.

Hosting

July 7th at 2-5pm on Microsoft Teams

Value for businesses:

Value for attendees:

How to promote:

Interested? Businesses sign up below

Just interested in attending?

yellow hard hat on brown and yellow fireman s suit

8 Must-Follow Safety Tips

May 11, 2022May 15, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Health and Safety

In this article, we rank the best tips for health and safety.

Use everything properly

Many workplace accidents are caused by the misuse of machinery. Learning to use everything properly can prevent injuries in your workplace. Make sure to only use machines you are trained for and double-check that they are maintained often.

2. Report unsafe conditions immediately

Fix any workplace hazards ASAP. If it’s dangerous for you to remove the risk, do not attempt it by yourself. Employees must report dangerous conditions to their managers as they are legally required to provide a safe environment. So if you say something is unsafe, they have to correct it as soon as possible.

3. Wear your safety gear

Always wear the necessary PPE. An easy way to avoid an incident is to wear the proper safety gear for your workplace. This includes:

reflective, fire-retardant clothing, industrial workwear or something as simple as nonslip shoes.

4. Keep your workplace clean.

Did you know that having a clean workspace can lead to better job satisfaction as well as keeping you free from danger. Clutter in your work area can cause you or others to trip and fall, and the mess could be hiding hazards you can’t see

5. Eat and Drink

Many workers can get distracted and forget to drink or eat meals. You should always take the time to look after yourself as dehydration or starvation can cause you to lose focus and feel faint, leading to possibly injuring yourself or others.

6. Use proper posture when sitting and lifting.

Poor posture can cause strain on your back, neck and upper body, leading to serious injury. To prevent this from happening, try to use an ergonomic desk as well as keyboards to avoid straining your wrists and arms. Remember to periodically adjust how you are sitting, keep your shoulders in line with your hips and lift with your legs when moving objects.

7. Awareness of surroundings.

Being aware of your surroundings is an easy way to avoid workplace injuries. Here are some things to be mindful of in your environment:

Look for spills and objects on the floor that could be potential tripping hazards.

Remember to use the appropriate safety equipment for each task you are doing.

Choose items such as a forklift or wheelbarrow to help lift items if you aren’t sure you can lift it.

Keep emergency exits clear so they are accessible in an emergency.

Label hazardous materials with appropriate WHMIS signs.

Know where the first aid kits are located in the building and which staff members are trained to administer first aid if an injury occurs.

Know the emergency procedures in the event of a fire, flood or earthquake.

Only use secure, steady ladders and never use boxes or anything else as an improvised ladder.

Test railings first before using them to make sure they are adequately secured.

And lastly, be sure to never take shortcuts.

Every worker, at one point or another, has been tempted to take a shortcut at work. Don’t forget that procedures exist to keep workers safe. It might not seem like skipping a step or two will end the world; however, not wearing safety gear may save you time, but it’s not worth facing serious injury.

WHMIS Training – What it is and why you need it

February 21, 2022December 16, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Health and Safety

What is WHMIS?

You may be wondering, what is WHMIS and why do you need to get it? In this article, we will discuss the reasons you need a WHMIS certificate, and how it can help you in your chosen field.

WHMIS training is legally required for everyone in Canada who works with or may encounter hazardous materials at work. In Ontario, WHMIS legislation applies to all workplaces except farms. There are many ways to receive training, the goal always remains the same; ensure that workers receive, understand, and use the necessary information to stay safe while working with hazardous products in the workplace.

WHMIS safeguards the health of the workers who engage with or alongside hazardous products. It also safeguards the health of both the workplace and it’s employees.

Any given workplace incorporates a quantity of interest in chemicals and substances. All of them have their very own set of adverse effects. They will need their own unique handling requirements to prevent problems. However, these dangerous substances are used among workers, which may cause major respiratory and other health problems. Others are also in control of materials that have got to be cleaned and disposed of in certain ways.

We interviewed Zaid Von Velten, an Environmental, Health and Safety professional to get his take on WHMIS training.

This is what he had to say:

How can knowing WHMIS help you in daily life?

“Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) is an essential tool to protect the health and safety of our workers in the workplace. Most of our workers handle or work near hazardous chemicals on the daily basis. Thus, having knowledge of WHMIS is a crucial factor in enabling you to handle chemicals safely.”

Check Zaid out on LinkedIn

It also gives those trained in it an understanding of how to avoid physical injury or exposure by being aware of household appliances that could cause harm, e.g. bleach.

How does WHMIS training benefit businesses?

“By having knowledgeable and trained workers in the workplace, workers will less likely to have an accident while handling or working near hazardous materials.”

Employers must ensure that their employees are trained on hazardous products before they use them. The type and amount of training are dependent on whether a product is new to the workplace and/or newly classified as a hazardous product. By having your employees WHMIS certified you reduce your business’s liability if something should happen.

Should you include a WHMIS certification on your resume?

“Yes, It’s an important skill for most employers.”

Any certification no matter how small is always good to add to your resume as it shows your knowledge.

Does having a WHMIS certificate boost your employability?

“Yes, in some cases. Certain employers would have WHMIS knowledge and experience as a must in their job posting.”

In this case, it is especially important to add WHMIS certifications to resumes when applying to jobs as employers are more likely to hire someone who is already certified rather than paying for that employee to take a WHMIS course.

What sort of workplaces require WHMIS training?

“Majority of Canadian workplaces require WHMIS training.”

If a workplace has hazardous materials on-site, or has you handling them they are required to offer WHMIS or at least a form of Safety training.

Check out Baig Security’s own WHMIS training course at https://baigsecurity.com/courses/

thoughtful ethnic businessman using laptop while working in office

What’s it like being a security guard?

February 14, 2022February 26, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Security Career, Security Industry

We interviewed three security guards about their experiences on the job.

The first guard we interviewed was Chris Ballantyne. He’s had 3 years working in health care security after graduating from the Protection, Security and Investigations from Georgian College.

What led you to become a security guard?

“I wanted to become a security guard in order to build an excellent foundation and reputation for a further career in law enforcement. Working in a hospital, we work alongside law enforcement almost daily, building rapport as well as getting a brief sneak peek into their procedures.”

Check out Chris on Linkedin

When asked What do you like about the job? Chris said, “Knowing I’m building my knowledge and resumé base for my next career, the people are awesome, and it’s not the same thing every day, always a little different.”

Chris says that working as a security guard, he found he dislikes, “Unfortunately the pay, sadly in New Brunswick security is a tad underpaid, even when calculating cost of living factors percentage-wise, it’s still low in my opinion, but many careers are lower paid in the Atlantic provinces of Canada.”

Next, we interviewed Damien Rickus, who has been working as a security guard since March 2021.

Damien became a security guard because being a security guard was one of the three career paths I chose when leaving secondary as there can be a lot of progression within the security business from a static guard up to close protection and going from employee to employee self-employed into a business owner.

When asked, “What are some misconceptions people have about security guards? “Damien said:

“The biggest misconception people have about security guards is that we are lazy and have no clue of what is happening around us; this is untrue as a security guard needs to be fully alert at all times also we have a multitude of tasks and training in which we need to complete in order to keep every person as safe as possible.”

Check out Damien on Linkedin

How many hours do you work as a security guard?

The majority of shifts are 12 hours; however, you can work a 15 hour shift if your company lets you do so; signing the opt-out agreement is the best thing to do as you can then work 5 days out of 7, making for a total minimum of 60 hours in a week.

How much do you make as a security guard? Do you feel it’s fair to pay?

Chris says, “$16.50/hr. I feel it’s low compared to where I used to live, which was about $10/hr more. The hospital there and here are similar in size (the one I currently work at is technically bigger by bed count), thus serving a similarly sized community.’

Damien has similar views stating, “The majority of pay for security staff is around £10 per hour; I believe this to be unfair as there ate costs that we security personnel have to endure to qualify and get our badges”.

What are some of your responsibilities?

Chris, who works in healthcare security, says his responsibilities are:

Maintaining secure entrances (Locking doors, making sure windows and doors are closed, not damaged and functioning as intended. Maintain parking lot standards (written warnings, counts of spots). Assist staff with upset or possibly violent patients, visitors etc.

Whereas Damien says, “The responsibilities of a security can include, first aid, patrols, access and egress control, CCTV monitoring, key keeping, some receptionist responsibilities (if working in a gatehouse), spotting potential threats.”

Phillip Brigante is currently working as a security officer who previously worked as a security police officer in the air force. His military training is what led him to become a security guard. One thing he enjoys about the job is being able to help people and find there’s nothing he dislikes about the position. He shares Chris and Damien’s views on the common misconception of being a security guard is that they are seen as rent-a-cops.

Check out Phillip on his Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/phillip-brigante-a174aa20b/

woman wearing gray notch lapel suit jacket

What’s it like to work in the Security Industry?

February 7, 2022May 15, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in Security Career, Security Industry

We interviewed four different security professionals to find out firsthand what it’s like to work in the security industry?

Featuring Gerry Markee, RyanJohn Staples, David P Bradney, and Cole Nethercott.

We had the first question: What are your views on the security industry?

Gerry Markee is a retired Security Trainer, Union Executive and Steward. He was employed in Hospitals and Museums for over 40 years. Gerry worked in Health and Safety and as a consultant in Security Legislation that updated the Security industry legislation.

When asked about his views on the security industry, Gerry said, “Disappointment. Despite legal changes demanding better training, employers and governments will always fight to keep wages and costs as low as possible, creating, for the most part, a job ghetto. Management is often incompetent, anti-labour, and not above breaking laws due to serious ethical failings”.

Are there any trends you noticed?

David P Bradney is retired as a Colonel after 27 years in the United States Marine Corps in 2017. He worked as a combat veteran with deployments to Somalia, the Philippines, Iraq, and Afghanistan. In addition, I participated in numerous Theater Security Deployments and diplomatic missions throughout the Asia-Pacific Region, East Africa, and South America. David has been the Central Region Vice President for Gardaworld security services in the US since 2017, where he led and managed branch teams delivering security services across ten (10) states from Texas to South Dakota.

Davids’s experience in both the Security and the Military means he has amounted a lot of knowledge over the years. He said that the trends he noticed are, “The industry will continue to experience steady growth across the world, but hybrid solutions are becoming more necessary due to rising costs in labour and growing statutory and regulatory restrictions.

Check out David on LinkedIn

The number of security providers will continue to contract because of mergers and acquisitions. This M&A activity is so prevalent now because most smaller providers are unable to compete in terms of cost and resources with the largest companies even at the regional level.”.

How do you feel covid has affected the security industry?

Cole Nethercott is an experienced security professional of 3+ years with a demonstrated history of working as a security guard within the industry. When asked how he felt COVID-19 had affected the security industry, he said,

“I feel that it has been good for the industry; as Security, we need to be able to adapt to situations and adapt quickly. I feel like security guards, and companies have done that and have done it well to the best of their abilities. I feel that we have more of a role in the day to day operations and actually have a voice with our clients now more than before”

Check out Cole on his LinkedIn

I would like to see better training for the security industry, higher standards, and better relations with LEO’s; an example, in Ontario, Canada, the security course to receive your security license is only 40 hours, I’d like to see that become maybe a month, going over items more in-depth such as fire response and fire panel operations, basics of computer and CCTV operations (hands-on), better medical training rather than just the basic emergency level, hands-on radio operations (I’ve trained too many guards that don’t know how to use a radio or even turn it on, I understand there is a starting point for everyone for the knowledge base, but that should be covered in the security course). I feel that there should have been more awareness brought about security guards being part of the frontline at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

How do security guards impact workplace safety?

RyanJohn Staples is a Security Guard with four-plus years of experience and a demonstrated history working in the security and investigations industry.

Ryan’s views on how a security guard impacts workplace safety are,

“Security guards promote a safe workplace for everyone, and it brings peace of mind to others as we’re usually the first contact before police are called upon for assistance if an incident occurs.”.

Check out Ryan on his Linkedin

First Aid: Why do businesses need proper training for staff?

February 4, 2022December 16, 2022 by Sarah Stone, posted in First Aid

Depending what industry or sector you work in there might be an obvious or more pressing need to be first aid certified. However, it’s important for every sector, regardless of obvious need to have their employees certified in first aid.

There are benefits for both employee and employer to having employees completed first aid training courses. In this article we’ll look at some of the ways that first aid training can benefit both employers and employees, as well as Baig Security’s first aid training course.

So Why Should You Provide First Aid Training for Staff?

Well, first of all as an employer, it can ensure you are meeting any legal obligations for safety and training depending on where you work.

ambulance architecture building business

As well, having employees be first aid trained means if an accident where an injury is the result happens on your businesses premise, it allows for employees to react quickly to the situation and render aid.

As well, if you work in a sector which has high workplace accident rates, awareness due to first aid training can help avoid these instances, and keep your employees safe.

As well as an increased feeling of safety for employees, allowing them to be comfortable in their workspace and improve workflow. If an employee is constantly feeling unsafe, they are less likely to do their best work.

What are the Benefits for employees?

There are lots of benefits to being first aid trained as an employee. For example, it’s a great resume booster! As well, it allows you to be safe, and lessens anxiety by ensuring you know how to react if you or a co-worker is injured.

Being first aid trained doesn’t only apply at work. It is a useful skill that can help you no matter where you are. If something should happen at home, or out in public you are equipped with the skills to help.

Lastly, being first aid certified means you are safe to work alone. If an employee who has no first aid training is working alone and receives an injury they are more likely to panic and make poor decisions.

Now that you know the benefits of first aid training for both employer and employees, check out Baig Security’s first aid training course!

It can be completed in a hybrid delivery or fully in person and costs 89.99. It is a red cross certified course, and covers the following topics:

Preparing to respond
The EMS system
Check, call, care
Airway emergencies
Breathing and circulation emergencies
First aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest
Wound care
Written exam

Interested in learning more about our first aid training course? Go to this link www.baigsecurity.com/training for more information.