Product Overview

Summary: This Security and Loss Prevention Safe Operating Procedure sets out clear, practical measures to protect your people, premises, and assets from theft, aggression, and unauthorised access. Designed for Australian workplaces, it aligns day-to-day security activities with WHS obligations, helping you prevent incidents before they escalate into safety, legal, or reputational issues.

Security incidents in the workplace rarely affect property alone; they frequently create direct risks to worker safety, from armed robbery and aggressive behaviour to unauthorised entry and after-hours intrusions. This Security and Loss Prevention Safe Operating Procedure provides a structured, WHS-aligned framework for preventing, responding to, and reporting security-related events that may endanger workers, contractors, visitors, or members of the public. It defines clear steps for risk assessment, access control, cash handling, stock protection, incident escalation, and coordination with emergency services, so your team knows exactly what to do before, during, and after an event.

Tailored for Australian businesses across retail, warehousing, healthcare, hospitality, education, and corporate environments, this SOP helps you integrate security management into your existing WHS systems and due diligence processes. It supports compliance with WHS legislation by addressing foreseeable risks such as workplace violence, robbery, and trespass, and by documenting how you consult with workers, train staff, and monitor the effectiveness of your controls. By standardising security and loss prevention practices, you reduce the likelihood of serious incidents, minimise financial losses, protect staff from psychological harm, and demonstrate a robust, defensible approach if an incident is scrutinised by regulators, insurers, or the courts.

Key Benefits

• Reduce the risk of security-related injuries, psychological harm, and critical incidents through proactive planning and clear control measures.
• Ensure alignment with Australian WHS duties by documenting how security and loss prevention risks are identified, controlled, and reviewed.
• Standardise responses to theft, aggression, robbery, and suspicious behaviour so all staff act consistently and confidently under pressure.
• Minimise financial losses from internal and external theft, stock shrinkage, fraud, and property damage.
• Strengthen evidence for insurance and regulatory investigations with clear records of training, incident reporting, and corrective actions.

Who is this for?

• WHS Managers
• Security Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Retail Store Managers
• Warehouse and Distribution Centre Managers
• Hospitality and Venue Managers
• Healthcare Practice Managers
• School and Campus Administrators
• Front-of-House and Reception Supervisors
• Loss Prevention Officers
• Duty Managers and Shift Supervisors
• Business Owners and Directors

Hazards Addressed

• Armed robbery and hold-up events
• Verbal abuse, threats, and physical assault from customers, clients, or members of the public
• Occupational violence and aggression towards frontline and lone workers
• Unauthorised access to restricted or high-risk areas
• Theft of cash, stock, tools, or sensitive information leading to secondary safety risks
• After-hours intrusions and break-ins
• Psychological injury arising from exposure to traumatic or threatening incidents
• Slips, trips, and falls during emergency egress or rapid evacuation in a security incident
• Manual handling and strain injuries during stock protection or emergency barricading
• Vehicle-related incidents in car parks and loading docks linked to security breaches

Included Sections

• 1.0 Purpose, Scope and Objectives
• 2.0 Definitions and Key Terms
• 3.0 Roles, Responsibilities and Authority
• 4.0 Security Risk Assessment and Planning
• 5.0 Access Control and Visitor Management
• 6.0 Cash Handling, Banking and High-Value Asset Controls
• 7.0 Stock Protection, Inventory Control and Anti-Theft Measures
• 8.0 Occupational Violence and Aggression Prevention Strategies
• 9.0 Procedures for Robbery, Hold-Up and Armed Threats
• 10.0 Managing Suspicious Behaviour, Trespass and Unauthorised Access
• 11.0 Use of CCTV, Alarms and Electronic Security Systems
• 12.0 Lone Worker, After-Hours and Remote Work Security
• 13.0 Incident Response, Escalation and Coordination with Police and Emergency Services
• 14.0 Post-Incident Support, Debriefing and Psychological Health
• 15.0 Reporting, Investigation and Corrective Actions for Security Incidents
• 16.0 Training, Induction and Competency Requirements
• 17.0 Consultation, Communication and Worker Engagement
• 18.0 Records Management and Privacy Considerations
• 19.0 Monitoring, Audit and Continuous Improvement
• 20.0 Document Control and Review History

Legislation & References

• Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (Cth) and equivalent state and territory WHS Acts
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011 and equivalent state and territory WHS Regulations
• Safe Work Australia – Guide for Preventing and Responding to Workplace Bullying
• Safe Work Australia – Work-related Psychological Health and Safety: A systematic approach to meeting your duties
• Safe Work Australia – General Guide for Workplace Traffic Management (relevant to car park and loading dock security)
• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2018 Risk management – Guidelines
• AS 3745:2010 Planning for emergencies in facilities
• AS 4806 (series): Closed circuit television (CCTV) for security applications
• AS 4421:2011 Guard and patrol security services
• Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles (for CCTV, access control, and data handling)