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VOLUME 1 - ISSUE 11 / DECEMBER 2007

Churches Mixed Over Armed Guards

Despite the recent shootings at a Colorado Springs church, pastors and parishioners across the country are still uncomfortable with the idea of bringing armed security guards into churches. The security guard on duty on Dec. 9 at New Life Church stopped a gunman from potentially wounding more people, and many experts say the need for such protection is a sign of the times. "If you're over 2,000 in membership, you're crazy not to have armed security," says Church Security Services CEO Dale Annis. "When you get to that size, you really have no idea who is walking through your doors." Still, many pastors still see churches as a safe haven, and are reluctant to bring in armed guards. There are also financial repercussions, such as training and staffing a security team and keeping permits current, that prohibit smaller churches from hiring security. The security director of a mega-church in Dallas, Tx., says armed security can be implemented without alarming parishioners by keeping the focus on safety and resorting to weapons as a last resource.

Source: Rocky Mountain News (12/11/07) P. 21 ; Montero, David

SECURING US MALLS AGAINST TERROR A DELICATE BALANCE

Guarding malls against perceived terrorist attacks without deterring shoppers remains a challenge for federal investigators and shopping center operators. The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced recently that al-Qaeda plans to strike shopping malls in Chicago and Los Angeles during the holiday season. While security at many malls is already at a high level, it is difficult for malls to implement additional, preventive measures, as concrete barriers, manned scanners, and bag searches are likely keep shoppers away. Illinois's Woodfield Mall, operated by Taubman Centers, is one of the more vulnerable malls with around 30 million visitors annually, and faces the potentially expensive decision of whether or not to implement such security measures. "It's a logistical nightmare," says project manager Micah Carlson at the National Security Technology Department of John Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory. However, Woodfield does use a surveillance system and security guards. Indeed, security systems like "air sniffer" devices and closed circuit television are extremely popular with malls, according to Frank MacInnis of Emcor Group. As well, the International Council of Shopping Centers has begun a training program in which mall security guards learn U.S. government-recommended techniques for spotting suspicious behavior. Since the program's inception in May 2007, 6,000 security guards have completed the course. The program concentrates on teaching guards how to spot behavior patterns suggesting someone is not in the mall for recreational purposes.

Source: Reuters (11/16/07) ; Carey, Nick

Customs to Collect Full Sets of Visitors' Prints

Foreigners coming to this country will soon be required to have every finger scanned at airports as part of a new government anti-terrorist initiative. The initiative is designed to improve the US-VISIT program, which aims to provide a clearer idea of who is entering the United States and apprehend undesirable individuals. Increasing the system from two fingerprints to 10 will allow more in-depth checking against terrorist watch lists and databases of illegal immigrants and criminals. "Biometrics can be a game-changer," says Homeland Security spokesman Russ Knocke. "They represent what terrorists fear most-- an increased likelihood of getting caught."

Source: USA Today (12/02/07) ; Hall, Mimi

OSHA RULES EMPLOYERS MUST PAY COST OF WORKERS' SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Over the next six months, employers must prepare to cover the costs for personal protective equipment (PPE), including safety-toed footwear, safety eyewear, and other clothing. The U.S. Labor Department and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized a rule proposed in 1999 requiring employers to pay the full cost of most PPE used by workers. Regulators expect employers to become more accountable regarding the PPE choices they make, and studies indicate employers are more likely to maintain and replace equipment when mandated to pay for it. OSHA estimates the costs for providing PPE will reach $85 million, in addition to the partial PPE payments already paid by employers. The agency also hopes the rule will reduce medical and insurance costs for work-related injuries by $200 million as work-related injuries drop by 21,000. U.S. House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) said, "It should have never taken the threat of a lawsuit [from the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers] to get the Department of Labor to take these simple steps to protect workers from everyday jobsite hazards and prevent thousands of workplace injuries each year."

Source: Insurance Journal (11/19/07) ; Holland, Jesse J.

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