Staying safe travelling to and from work
July 19, 2023
It is important colleagues continue to be vigilant on our journey to and from work, particularly when public areas are less busy in the evenings and weekends. Take note of our safety tips:
Chaperone service now available – If you are parked on our sites and finish work in the early hours of the morning, you can contact our security team who will be happy to escort you to your car. If security colleagues are tied up with other matters they may be able to instead offer to monitor you on CCTV if you feel that would provide you with additional safety. To request a chaperone please call the security department on ext. 4133 (City) or ext. 3163 (Sandwell). Further security advice and information via Connect.
Walk with a friend/colleague – Find a friend/colleague who will be taking a similar route.
Ensure you lock your car – Wind up your windows and lock your car as you leave.
Charge your phone – Make sure your phone is fully charged before setting out so that it’ll be working should you need it.
Plan your route – Try to stick to well-lit areas where you know it is likely that there will be people around.
Be alert at all times – Avoid wearing headphones and items of clothing that obscure your vision. When travelling along a road it is safer to walk in the direction of oncoming traffic, so you are visible to drivers.
Keep expensive items hidden – Keep expensive items such as mobile phones and iPods away from sight.
Carry a deterrent – Having a deterrent such as a screech alarm or personal safety device can give you extra peace of mind. Our security team have a stock of keyring torch alarms if anyone would like one for personal security.
Remember to keep where you work secure – Before you leave work, close the windows to prevent any intruders breaking and entering.
If you do encounter any issues call the police on 999. If you are on our sites then call the security team on 2222.
Be in the know about policing and crime alerts in your local area: West Midlands Police are constantly working to improve the flow of information between themselves and the people living and working within the region in order to make a greater impact in the prevention and detection of crime and anti-social behaviour. If you live, work or have an interest in the West Midlands area you can register for a new service offering free messages, crime alerts and witness appeals local to you. To sign up please visit https://www.wmnow.co.uk/.
As a registered recipient, you will not only benefit from free two way messaging but will also receive crime alerts, hear about positive police action in your community, help identify suspected or wanted criminals or learn about community groups, events and meetings in your area.