Warehouses are typically full of valuable goods and assets. As such, they need to be properly secured. This article looks at how security solutions can play a key role in protecting warehouse staff and assets.
A key element in the logistics process, warehouses are large facilities where goods and products are stored before they are distributed to their next destination. Warehouses are typically busy, high-value environments that often operate around the clock. As such, they are subject to a range of security and safety challenges.
“Common issues include theft or pilferage, unauthorized access to restricted zones, vandalism, and after-hours intrusions. In addition, safety incidents such as forklift collisions or improper material handling can lead to downtime and liability concerns,” said Mary Beth Kosmicki, Communications Manager at Pavion.
Below we look at some of warehouse security and safety issues in greater detail.
Theft and organized crime
Many products and goods stored at warehouses are high-value assets. As such, they are targeted by not only thieves, but also members of organized crime.
“Organized crime gangs (OCGs) continue to present a severe and multifaceted threat to the warehouse sector, engaging in sophisticated operations that include cargo theft, fraud, and the systemic infiltration of supply chains. These criminal enterprises often target goods by exploiting security weaknesses, utilizing insider information, or deploying cyberattacks and spoofing to compromise surveillance systems,” said Brian Lee, MD of IDIS Europe. “The consequences extend beyond immediate financial losses, causing often long-term significant supply chain disruptions, tarnishing corporate reputations, and driving up insurance premiums.”
Cybersecurity
Like other industries, the warehouse sector is also subject to cyberattacks which can produce wide and far-reaching consequences for operators.
“Supply chain cyberattacks, which frequently affect warehousing and logistics operations, are particularly costly to address – estimated to require 17 times more resources to remediate than breaches that directly target a standalone company. The estimated cost of a single data breach can vary widely, but cyber experts estimate it ranges from several million to tens of millions of dollars,” Lee said.
Health, safety, and environmental risks
Finally, warehouses are faced with health, safety and even environmental risks ranging from workplace injuries to natural disasters – incidents that would take a huge toll on warehouse operations.
“According to the latest Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) data, the average direct cost of a serious workplace injury in the U.S. can range from US$40,000 to $100,000+, while indirect costs can be 2-4 times higher, with fatal injuries exceeding $1 million per incident. Slips, trips, and falls in warehouses are a common cause of injury, followed by workers being struck by moving objects, including machinery such as forklifts and side loaders,” Lee said. “Warehouses are also at risk of fires, floods, and extreme weather events, goods-handling inefficiencies, and human error.”
How security can help
Fortunately, today advanced security solutions can effectively mitigate the aforementioned risks facing warehouse operators.
“Modern security solutions take a proactive approach to these challenges through intelligent video surveillance and access control. Advanced analytics can automatically detect motion, loitering, or perimeter breaches, while integrated access systems ensure every entry and exit is authenticated and recorded. Together, these technologies help organizations maintain a safer, more transparent operation while reducing losses and improving response times,” Kosmicki said.
Modern security devices also come with cybersecurity features that help warehouse operators counter cyber-threats. Stéphane Quetglas, Director of IoT Consumer and Industrial Marketing at Thales, uses her company’s solutions as examples. “Thales ensures the secure transmission and storage of video streams through strong encryption and authentication mechanisms. Warehouse management systems … are critical for operations and must be protected from cyberattacks. Thales secures these systems with hardware security modules (HSMs) for cryptographic key protection and secure APIs to prevent data tampering,” she said.
As for health and safety risks, intelligent security solutions can play a key role in this regard. “AI-powered fall detection can now enable earlier and more consistent intervention when accidents occur. Abandoned object detection supports safety monitoring by triggering automatic alerts when potentially dangerous obstructions occur in areas that must remain clear … AI cameras mounted on the vehicles provide live and recorded views, while rear and side cameras help operators navigate blind spots and tight spaces. If a staff member approaches a vehicle in operation, the driver is alerted with an alarm,” Lee said.